Teaching Rationale: MLA Design Thesis at the University of Hong Kong

Abstract

【摘要】 中國面臨著巨大的環境和社會挑戰,景觀設計在幫助中國社會戰勝這些挑戰方面發揮著重要的作用。景觀設計師需要能夠在有關環境、文化和社會問題的討論中發揮參與、理解和分析的權威作用,并且能夠提出合理的論據,從而制定有意義的行動。隨著景觀設計師在中國的影響力的不斷擴大,我們的教學不應再局限于景觀的專業知識,以及構成、材料、技術方面的操作技能,而應轉向引導學生解決問題的理性教育。應該在教學中向學生傳授嚴謹的知識和理論框架,以利于他們未來的職業實踐,進一步說,即擴展學科領域。香港大學的景觀設計教育經歷了20年的發展,我們在有關設計論文的過程和價值方面也積累了一些思考。設計論文要求學生在景觀設計學科領域內提出具有批判性的觀點,并通過設計過程檢驗其假設是否成立。論文的最終目標在于促進景觀設計領域中的知識、方法和實踐的運用,為學生進入實踐領域做準備,以及讓他們——學科未來的領導者——積極參與這一過程,并培養其批判性的自我反思能力、創新能力,以及對社會、經濟、環境可持續性發展的堅定信念。本文結合景觀設計碩士設計論文課程,提出了相應的方法,并對部分學生成果進行了展示。

China faces massive environmental and societal challenges, and Landscape Architecture has a vital role to play in helping the community to overcome these. Landscape architects need to be able to engage, understand and analyze authoritatively in topical discourses on environmental, cultural and social issues, and to be able to present rational arguments for meaningful action. This expanding sphere of influence requires that the teaching of landscape architecture reach beyond technical knowledge of landscapes and skills in the manipulation of its forms, materials and technologies, and address the issue of rationale. It needs to give students the intellectual rigor and theoretical framework for their future professional practice and, more broadly, to expand the discipline. After twenty years of Landscape Architecture education at HKU, we have some thoughts regarding the process and value of a design thesis in this regard. Design Thesis should require students to articulate a critical position within the discipline of Landscape Architecture and test the proposition through a design process. The ultimate goal of the thesis process should be to advance the knowledge, methods, and practices of landscape architecture and to prepare students to enter the world of practice and participate actively as future leaders of the discipline, with the capacity for critical self-reflection, innovation, and strong convictions regarding the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of the built environment. This paper presents the approach, and some of the outcomes, of our Master of Landscape Architecture Design Thesis course.