Rooftop Garden for Indigenous Flora, 7.5 hp

Contents

In the course we will frame the notion of 'garden' by looking into specific European-Western historic references such as the Specularium and the Hortus Conclusus, and non-European-Western notions of 'gardening' such as indigenous Boreal forest foraging and Afro-Antillean medicinal 'gardens', as well as contemporary artistic and architectural research works. The study of edible, medicinal and venomous plants growing around Umeå and the broader Nordic region, understanding their biological structure as well as their cultural and symbolic values will be an important aspect. From presentations and group discussions, we will look to develop designs for a small garden installation. The technical and cultural dimensions of this garden will meet the technicalities of building a garden on a roof.

Expected learning outcomes

For the grade Pass, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• have a basic knowledge of edible and medicinal plants and foraging techniques
• have a basic understanding of the notion of the "garden" 
• to understand how to evaluate a given architectural context as a potential site from which a garden can emerge

Competence and skills

• to develop the design of the taxonomy of elements which will set the core structure of a garden, from the idea to construction drawings
• collect and rethink classification of plants
• document the process, through text, pictures, architectural drawings, herbarium

Judgement and approach

• to rethink and design a garden adapted to local conditions

For the grade Pass with Distinction, the student should in addition be able to:

• apply the content of the course to formulate new design ideas based on critical reflection and assessment of contemporary artistic and architectural research work

Required Knowledge

In addition to general entry requirements for university studies, applicants must also have completed at least 30 credits in the main field of architecture. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6. Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.

Form of instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, workshops and project work. Students can choose if they want to work on a project individually or in a group, depending on whether the students are on site or remote.

The right to receive tuition including supervision only applies during the time the course instance is in progress for which the student has been registered.

The course includes mandatory elements that require physical presence on campus and/or participation in scheduled digital meetings, see further in the course's current schedule and information in the learning platform.

Examination modes

Physical presence and/or participation at scheduled digital meetings for mandatory elements is required for a passing result on the course, unless otherwise specified in the course's current schedule and information in the learning platform.

The examination consists of the submission of visual material, documentation of the work process and outcomes as an individual written report.

The grade scale is Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G) or Fail (U). For the grade Pass, the student must fulfill all expected learning outcomes for the grade Pass. For the grade Pass with Distinction, the student must also fulfill the expected learning outcome for the grade Pass with Distinction.

Examiners may decide to deviate from the modes of assessment in the course syllabus. Individual adaption of modes of assessment must give due consideration to the student's needs. The adaption of modes of assessment must remain within the framework of the intended learning outcomes in the course syllabus. Students who require an adapted examination must submit a request to the department holding the course no later than 10 days before the examination. The examiner decides on the adaption of the examination, after which the student will be notified.

Students who have achieved a pass are not permitted to retake an examination.  
Students who do not pass an examination have the right to retake examinations. The date of the retake must be notified no later than the date of the regular examination. The first opportunity to retake an examination is to be offered no later than two months after the regular examination, but no earlier than 10 working days after students have been notified of the results of the regular examination. For examinations held in May and June, the first opportunity to retake the examination is to be offered within three months of the regular examination session. In addition, at least one further re-examination is offered within a year from the regular exam date.

A student who has taken a regular examination and retake in a course or a part of a course without obtaining a pass grade is entitled to request the appointment of another examiner or marking teacher, unless there are special reasons to the contrary. Students should address any such request to the director of studies or equivalent.

Other regulations

In the event of a course syllabus being withdrawn or undergoing major changes, students are guaranteed at least three examination opportunities (including the regular examination session) in accordance with the previous course syllabus during a maximum of two years from the expiry of the course syllabus or the discontinuation of the course.