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About the studio



Study Area

Overview 
How can we, studio instructors in Landscape Architecture, expose students to the socio-historic complexity of urban sites and then pivot to design spaces that express the formal rigor of planning and design? It is clear that history, race, gender and economic standing are considerations as is the need to open a space for all affected people to participate and engage. What I have observed in studios as well as in public design projects, is the difficulty for students and designers to reconcile the outcomes from a publicly engaged process and the products required to represent synthesized ideas in space and form.

  Studio 
 The studio is structured for students to work with a planner, an extension specialist, community leader and resident (social network) to propose strategies and develop designs for the improvement of a neighborhood. The studio will engage the group through typical charrettes and workshops to develop a social network needs/analysis plan, a strategic planning program and conceptual design options for public open spaces. There will be four formal presentations during the semester for faculty, the Network team or residents to evaluate and comment on work.

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