Halvorsen Thorén, K., 2004, The role of critique in landscape architecture: how do we act as researchers?, in: ECLAS (Jørgensen, K. & G. Fry), ‘A critical light on landscape architecture’, ,
- Author : Halvorsen Thorén, K.
- Year : 2004
- Published in Book : A critical light on landscape architecture
- Abstract in English : As professionals and teachers it is obvious that critique is needed and an important issue when developing the practice and even the education. The word critique in this sense means some kind of evaluation based on a systematic analysis of the layout of a project at a detailed design level as well as at a planning level for instance the layout of the outdoor or green structure. Somebody will perhaps wonder why critique in this sense also is important in the field of landscape architecture research, or perhaps they think critique is a part of practice that should not occur at all in research. An answer to such questions, is that critique according to the definition above, often appears in landscape architecture research, but the problem is that we, as researchers, are not always aware of it. Another problem might occur when we don’t pay attention to our own basis when doing critique. What kind of theories lay behind our evaluations of projects, and how does this affect studies? The main purpose of this essay is to discuss how research might help professional practice and education to develop a better ground for doing critique. As a field of research, landscape architecture needs knowledge from so many disciplines, and there are so many models of interpretation. Understanding this will, to a great extent, also influence the way we look at the layout of landscape architect projects or our surroundings as a basis for research.