Design Fundamentals and Techniques

The module introduces the students to the fundamental elements, principles and processes of design in general and for the built environment. This module intends to develop the students’ cognitive and affective capacities and introduces students to fundamentals, basic techniques and skills in design and the creative process. Ideation will be taught through a series of short projects that will help the students to understand and explore various design processes and methods. This module aims to help students un-learn the pre-conceptions that they may have accumulated, encouraging questioning of conventions and standard practices through creative and critical thinking. The module culminates in an integrated design studio project where the student would be able to apply knowledge acquired from the other modules in the course.

Technology and Sustainability Fundamentals

This module is aimed at equipping students to take on an investigative approach to study the fundamental elements of building science as well as sustainability considerations and its application in built environment projects. Students are encouraged to integrate the various building science and sustainability elements into their integrated design studio project to bring about new design possibilities as well as gaining a broader understanding of their applications in the realm of the built environment.

Design Representation

The module will address the fundamental issues of critical observation and reflection, critical and creative thinking, visualization as well as design documentation to facilitate the development and communication of design ideas. Students will complete a series of exercises to develop computer aided 2D and 3D visualization, model making and freehand sketching skills. Projects will be used to develop capacity and capability to conceive design ideas in terms of spatial development in response to design theory, ergonomics, anthropometrics as well as environmental and technical issues relevant to the built environment. The ability to conceptualize in 3D through the making of study models and prepare appropriate graphical design documentation relevant to the built environment industry will be developed to enable students to demonstrate their application of knowledge acquired from the other modules in the year into an integrated design studio project.

Landscape Architecture Foundation

This module aims at equipping students to take on an explorative design approach to study softscape and hardscape materials and its foundational application in the built environment. Students will learn to integrate the various landscape elements into their integrated design studio projects to bring about new design possibilities as well as gain a broader understanding of their applications in the realm of landscape architecture.

Communicating for Personal & Team Effectiveness

This module aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to solve problems and make decisions by setting personal goals which are in line with team goals. This includes managing time and resources effectively so as to reduce stress to achieve work-life balance. Students will also understand and be able to apply self-awareness techniques including applying emotional intelligence principles to manage self at the workplace.

Critical and Analytical Thinking (CAT)

This module aims to equip students with skills in critical and analytical thinking, which includes the ability to evaluate different perspectives, articulate a point of view and support it with relevant and credible evidence. The module also provides students with opportunities to practise information literacy, and critical and analytical thinking through the exploration of contemporary local and global issues.

Communicating for Project (Proposal) Effectiveness

Aims to equip students with the skills to articulate and communicate ideas persuasively, and to work effectively in teams. They will be taught to pitch ideas or concepts and to write proposals to an intended audience.

Narrative Thinking (NAT)

This module aims to equip students with the skills to critically evaluate the elements of narratives used in a variety of contexts, and to appreciate and harness the power of storytelling in our daily life. Students will analyse narratives to connect and contextualise self to society, and learn to craft impactful personal narratives to inspire or influence others.

Design Studio I (Landscape Architecture)

Design for skyrise greenery that consists of design considerations and statutory requirements will be introduced. User behaviour will be studied to enable strategic planning to create green spaces in buildings that provides niches for respite or gathering places for interaction at different times of the day. An integrated project enables students to apply all core skills towards designing aesthetically-pleasing and environmentally-friendly design proposals.

Technical Studies I (Landscape Architecture)

Skyrise greenery applications requires students to know the importance of integrating green spaces in buildings. Learning technology for skyrise considerations needs an understanding of suitable plants and appropriate hardscape construction details. When bringing nature closer to users in buildings, more sustainable buildings are created to alleviate urban heat island effect that contributes to minimize the impact of climate change in the long run.

Design Representation I (Landscape Architecture)

Students will be taught software applications to enhance digitalisation at intermediate level. Documentation of landscape architecture construction details will be enhanced. Three-dimensional graphical skills will strengthen communications of design proposals in presentations.

Elective 1

Please refer to Elective Module link below.

Communicating for Professional Effectiveness

This module aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to identify jobs that match their interests, capabilities and qualifications to prepare resumes that are unique and customised for job requirements and hone interview skills to help them secure that job. Students will also understand and be able to apply self-awareness techniques including applying emotional intelligence principles in a professional setting to manage self and a team at the workplace.

Social Innovation Project

This module aims to equip students with a Design Thinking mindset in a social innovation context. Students collaborate in multi-disciplinary groups to apply Design Thinking tools and methods to create innovative prototype solutions for local social issues. In the process, they will develop a better understanding of themselves, and empathy for a local community in need.

Internship Programme

Provides opportunity to gain professional working experience through attachments to local or overseas companies or organisations. Students are required to prepare a report and proper documentation on the internship programme.

Design Studio II (Landscape Architecture)

Design for urban planning encompasses learning of design processes to build frameworks as strategies with reference to large scale site context. Design considerations need to adhere to statutory requirements and design guidelines. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are taught to strategize planning decisions to create engaging spaces for communities and carve out green spaces in the built environment. An integrated project in a large scale will enable students to apply all core skills towards designing user-friendly and sustainable design proposals.

Technical Studies II (Landscape Architecture)

Site planning applications need students to understand complex systems and relationships. Land form, site inventory and its impact on site planning of the urban context will be introduced. When carving green spaces that will sustain in the urban setting, students will develop knowledge of plant selection for large public spaces and consider urban biodiversity and management to enhance the built environment in a large scale.

Design Representation II (Landscape Architecture)

Students will be taught software applications to enhance digitalisation at advance level. Documentation of landscape architecture construction in a planning scale and site context will be introduced. Three-dimensional graphical skills will strengthen communications of design proposals in presentations for a more complex setting in a larger scale.

Technical Studies Thesis (Landscape Architecture)

Ability to be choose a specialisation towards a technical inclination in the landscape architecture profession to express individual uniqueness as a designer. To show understanding in the professional practice’s work flow and articulate individual contributing factor to a team that will transform the built environment. To showcase relevant skills towards digitalisation, design and documentation to contribute to a profession that creates spaces for people to be close to nature with sustainability in mind. To be able to apply to a diverse range of work opportunities or further education prospects in store after completion of course.

Depth Elective I (Landscape Architecture)

In-depth teaching of landscape architecture specialisation as elective according to raising trends in professional practice.

Depth Elective II (Landscape Architecture)

In-depth teaching of landscape architecture specialisation as elective according to raising trends in professional practice.

Elective 2

Please refer to Elective Module link below.

Elective 3

Please refer to Elective Module link below.