landscape architect design methods _4

 landscape architect design methods

Combining the work of Lynch and Hack and Rowe generates seventeen methods.  However, it must be pointed out that Rowe recognizes that the dividing line between classifications are not absolute and instead are used for convenience.  Rowe’s five methods have characteristics crossing classification categories. While Lynch and Hack do not recognize this issue, their methods are also prone to blurred classification lines. An example is Brain Storming and Subconscious Suggestion.  Brain Storming is a way of welling up Subconscious Suggestions that are then further defined with the help of others in a Brain Storming session. Here Brain Storming crosses classification into the Subconscious Suggestion method.

One interesting note is that while the methods overlap, there is no over lap between Lynch’s and Rowe’s methods. This raises the question of whether all possible methods have been identified. 

Methodology is involved in the action phase of the design process. At this point, the designer generally understands the current situation and has a general or specific end result in mind.  Based on this desired end result, the designer then makes a conscious choice of a method or combination of methods which becomes the designer’s methodology. With a methodology, a designer has a road map for moving from the general starting area to the desired end. This is a design strategy.  Having a design strategy allows others to have a common framework to discuss, collaborate, and understand the working design. During a critique, how many students could answer the question “What is your design strategy?”

Another area of concern is that only two authors have researched and written about architecture design methods. While the work of Lynch and Rowe has represented essential first steps, more researchers might result in a more diverse, and possibly more complete, body of work on the study of design methods in landscape architecture design.

 landscape architect design methods

I expanded my research to include other design disciplines, such as arts, science, engineering, and computer sciences.  However, all but one of the methods used in these field could in fit into one of the seventeen methods identified by Lynch and Rowe. (Jones, 192-199) The one method not identified by Lynch and Rowe is complex system modeling.  It involves the study, management and construction of a complex system, which is defined as:

“A system comprised of a (usually large) number of (usually strongly) interacting entities, processes, or agents, the understanding of which requires the development, or the use of, new scientific tools, nonlinear models, out-of equilibrium descriptions and computer simulations.” (Richards, 221)

Landscape architects study, manage, control, construct and interact with complex systems. Very rarely do landscape architects deal with systems that are not complex by nature. Therefore landscape architects need a method to deal with complex systems. That method is complex system modeling or system modeling.  System modeling can be defined as “concerned with basic and applied research on simulations and analysis of complex systems, as well as development of applications to understand and control such systems.” (Rocha, 1) 

In summation, there are eighteen types of methods used by landscape architects during a design process:

1) System Modeling; 

2) Environmental Relation; 

 landscape architect design methods

3) Anthropometric Analogies; 

4) Literal Analogies; 

7) Learning Probes; 

8) Subconscious Suggestion; 

9) Brainstorming; 

10) Evaluation Criteria;  

11) Well Spaced Alternatives;

12) Focus on the Means; 

13) Incremental Improvement; 

14) Incremental Adaption; 

15) Behavior Settings;

16) Structure of the Problem;

 17) Optimizing the Essential Function; 

 18) Disaggregation.

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landscape architect design methods

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