Research, Writing and Community Outreach: A critical Framework for the Refereed Urban Design Studio

Abstract

The Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture at Temple University includes urban renewal as part of its mission. The senior level Gray Manor Urban Design Studio focused on the regeneration of a blighted North Philadelphia neighbourhood through a critical process of research, writing and community dialogue. The studio incorporated research and writing to a greater extent than is usual in a design studio given its designation as a writing-intensive course in the Temple University curriculum. The rigour of inquiry coupled with community dialogue formed a strong foundation for the design process and improved studio pedagogy and design outcomes. The studio was refereed by a series of peer reviews that included community members, faculty and allied professionals. Subsequently, studio outcomes continued to be refereed by our professional peers through the award of an American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA) student prize to a group from the class, and the construction of a neighbourhood garden by students, faculty and community members. We can no longer be content with teaching students to remember a fixed body of knowledge; instead, we must help them to master techniques of problem solving and habits of learning ... The importance of education must be based in large part on judgements rather than proven facts, judgements that depend on a prudent assessment of the stakes involved. Derek Bok, Higher Learning Works in the landscape are situated in both space, time and tradition and inevitably become the site of future reflection and exposition. James Corner