The process needed to see a built example of landscape architecture can be mysterious
and magical.  As with all mystery and magic there is much that is hidden from view
that only becomes apparent during the acts of creation itself.

Part of this process involves public presentations of projects.  
Often this takes place before neighborhoods, design commissions, historic
preservation groups and zoning boards.  
Issues that seem straight forward in a studio or office become blurred and confused
contorted, stretched and abused.  
What we as designers value in Environmental Design becomes apparent through the
design process and is revealed or exposed in these public forums.  
The validity of the design and design process becomes more apparent.

The goal of this class is to reveal more about what we as landscape architects value
in landscape architecture and environmental design.  
What are the values that cause certain landscapes or urban spaces to be treated with
care and others to be abandoned or neglected?  
How are these processes exposed in public debate?

The class will be structured around projects that are planned, under construction or
built.  
In large part this will be conducted as a case method class.  
Design documents and Master plans are included in the class packet or are on reserve
in the reading room research center.  
Teams will be determined through conferences with the instructor and based on
personal interest.

During the course of each class, one topic will be assigned.  
One team of 3 or 4 students will be presenting the case.  
They will have a presentation of the case that will be limited to a total of 15 minutes. 
The opposition will be composed of a total of 2 or 3 students and will have the task
of presenting an opposing point of view for a presentation total of 15 minutes.  
The presenting team will have the opportunity for rebuttal to points made by the
opposition.

A design review board composed of 2 or 3 students will hear the case and will have a
period to review the evidence before them and ask questions of each side.
In some cases, the board will have an ordinance to choose to enforce or ignore.  A
vote will be taken.

The remaining class members will assess the values that have been expressed in the
project by the other presentations.

The intent is to move quickly through the cases and to learn to evaluate a design
while looking for the hot button issues that are included at the heart of the project.
The class requires the ability to analyze, synthesize and communicate clearly.