UWA Handbooks 2010 - Units
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LACH2240 Landscape Ecology [UG]

ECOLOGICAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Credit 6 points
Availability Semester 1 (see Timetable)
Old unit code 254.240
Outcomes Students acquire the knowledge, skills, ethics and attitudes necessary for the application of ecological design principles to landscape architecture. They become aware of the breadth and depth of information from scientific, humanistic, technological and artistic viewpoints and develop an understanding of interdisciplinary ecological design practices and the importance of skill collaboration. Students develop an awareness of and familiarity with key terms, concepts, principles, methods, techniques and settings of practising sustainable ecological design; and an ability to apply this knowledge to given environmental design situations and to solve specific ecological design problems.
Content This unit explores the role of landscape architecture in the multi- and interdisciplinary practices of landscape systems ecology. Topics include a broad understanding of varying biophysical types and their behavioural systems including bioregions, landscape character units, species communities, networks, patches, mosaics, corridors, paths, nodes, edges, diversity, representativeness, connectivity and fragmentation. Ecological design principles that investigate scientific insight with creative and constructive environmental design—implying designed human co-operation and biological partnership—are explored via the designed management of air, water, earth, fire and energy, biomass, food, biodiversity, habitat, eco-links, waste and material resources and values from the regional to the local site scales. Comparisons are made between the designed behaviour and performance of cultural settlements in suitably repairing, maintaining and enhancing sustainable ecological systems with the performance of natural ecosystems. The defined sustainable ecological design principles are applicable to all subsequent landscape architecture design studios undertaken in the Faculty.

The unit investigates and illustrates both historical and contemporary ecological design case studies where scientists and designers have collaborated in one form or another to produce physical landscape works, either as site-specific designs or as broader landscape management interventions. Case studies of designed landscape ecology, restoration ecology and ecosystem management are provided.
Assessment This unit is assessed by the satisfactory completion of two assignments, essentially designed to gauge the student's comprehension, participation and representation of the unit's full content over the semester. Both assignments require a demonstration of the student's abilities and skills to research—locate, select, organise and analyse—the relevant information, as well as communicate, both verbally and in electronic form, the information clearly, concisely and in a professional manner. Substantial teamwork is required. Internal assessment is 100 per cent.

Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit except in the case of a bachelor's pass degree student who has obtained a mark of 45 to 49 and is currently enrolled in this unit, and it is the only remaining unit that the student must pass in order to complete their course.
Unit Co-ordinator(s) Associate Professor Grant Revell
Location UWA (Crawley)
Mode on-campus
Unit Rules
Prerequisites: ARCT1130 Introduction to the Constructed Environment
Contact hours—35 hrs minimum (lectures: 12 x 2 hrs per week; tutorials: 1 hr per week; field trip: 1 long weekend with costs covered by the student)
Unit web page http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/studentnet
[Some unit web pages are still under construction and will be available in 2010.]
Texts

Johnson, B. R. and Hill, K., eds Ecology and Design: Frameworks For Learning: Island Press 2002

Topic outlines and case lists are made available.

Statutes

Refer to the unit guide and lecture summaries.

Recommended
reading

Baggs, S. A. The Healthy House: Thames & Hudson 1996

Battle, G. and McCarthy, C. Sustainable Ecosystems and the Built Environment: Wiley-Academy 2001

Brown, B., ed. 'Eco-Revelatory Design: Nature Constructed/Nature Revealed', Landscape Journal, vol. 17, no. 1: The University of Wisconsin Press 1998

Brown, G. Z. and DeKay, M. Sun, Wind and Light. Architectural Design Strategies, 2nd edn: John Wiley & Sons 2001

Campbell, C. S. and Ogden, M. H. Constructed Wetlands in the Sustainable Landscape: John Wiley & Sons 1999

Czerniak, J., ed. Downsview Park Toronto: Prestel Verlag 2001

Dramstag, W. E. et al. Landscape Ecology Principles in Landscape Architecture and Land-use Planning: Island Press 1996

Focus on the Future. The Western Australian State Sustainability Strategy, consultation draft: Government of Western Australia 2002.

Forman, R. T. T. Land Mosaics: the Ecology of Landscapes and Regions: CUP 1995

Forman, R. T. T. and Godron, M. Landscape Ecology: Wiley & Sons 1986

Forman, R. T. T. et al. Road Ecology. Science and Solutions: Island Press 2003

Hobbs, R. J. and Saunders, D. A., eds Reintegrating Fragmented Landscapes. Towards Sustainable Production and Nature Conservation: Springer-Verlag 1993

McHarg, I. Design with Nature: Doubleday/Natural History Press 1969

McHarg, I. 'Ecology and Design', Ecological Design and Planning, eds G. F. Thompson and F. R. Steiner, pp. 321–32: John Wiley & Sons 1997

Nassauer, J. Placing Nature Culture and Landscape Ecology: Island Press 1997

Rippey, E. and Rowland, B. Plants of the Perth Coast and Islands: University of Western Australia Press 1995

Stuart-Street, A. and Revell, G. Reading the Remote. Landscape Characters of Western Australia: Department of Conservation and Land Management 1994

Thompson, G. F. and Steiner, F. R., eds Ecological Design And Planning: John Wiley & Sons 1997

Thompson, J. W. and Sorvig, K. Sustainable Landscape Construction. A Guide to Green Building Outdoors: Island Press 2000



  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change.
  • Assistance with study skills, including English language skills, is available free of charge from Student Services for all enrolled students (see http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/learning). Student Services location: Second Floor, South Wing, Guild Village; telephone: 6488 2423.
  • Books and other materials wherever listed may be subject to change. Book lists relating to 'Preliminary Reading', 'Recommended Reading' and 'Textbooks' are, in most cases, available at the University Co-operative Bookshop (from early January) and appropriate administrative offices for students to consult. For first-year units the Bookshop will endeavour to make available photocopies of book lists for individual units. Books marked with an asterisk (*) are available in paperback.
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