Course
Overview: Logistics
At the
beginning of the term, the class will be divided into two
groups, which will compete to have their design of an Asian-themed
garden implemented on the Union College campus. Much like
an architectural design team, these groups will parlay individual
strengths and expertise into a collaborative vision of the
garden. The design teams could choose from one of two available
sites, and seminars of subsequent years would renovate, append,
or raze the site chosen during the inaugural year.
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The
two sites available to the 2003-4 inaugural Asian
Garden Design seminar.
ABOVE: Northwest corner of Jackson's
Garden, Union College.
LEFT: Bailey Courtyard, seen from the northeast. |
Each student will hand in an annotated bibliography and research
paper on a topic chosen upon consultation with the other members
of his/her group. Paper topics should reflect the student's
personal research interests, but should also contribute to
the group effort of coming up with a garden design. For instance,
five individual group members might choose the following disparate,
but complementary, topics:
• Wind and Water in Chinese Gardens
• The Rock as Microcosmic Mountain
• Hide-and-Seek: The Suzhou Garden as Playground
• Matter and Anti-Matter in the Zen Garden
• Flower Symbolism in the Seasonal Garden
In the seventh or eighth week, each team will present its
design proposal to the class and to a jury composed of Union
College faculty and staff. The judges include Connie Schmitz
(the Union College gardener), faculty from the Visual Arts,
Engineering, and East Asian Studies programs, as well as other
faculty who have no prior background in gardens or Asian aesthetics.
Each presentation should not exceed 30 minutes; a 15-minute
question-and-answer session follows each presentation. The
garden design proposal must include an itemized estimated
budget and timetable. When possible, indicate in the budget
the source(s) for building materials and tools.
At the end of the day, members of the class will hold a vote
by closed ballot to choose the better design. By the next
day, the judges will have conveyed their choice. If the class
vote and the panel's recommendation do not endorse the same
design, then Prof. Cura will cast the tie-breaking vote. Construction
will begin immediately.
Each team has free reign to determine the form of the presentation.
Suggested visual aids, in the form of slides, electronic or
digital shows, and/or handouts, include, among others, ground
plans and elevations, miniature models, three-dimensional
computer models, and music and sound. Brilliant execution
of the presentation will help sway the vote, so imaginative
presentation tools are highly encouraged! |
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