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Historic Preservation Home > Syllabi > 300 Level Courses > HISP 312 Landscape Preservation

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION

LANDSCAPE PRESERVATION
HISP 312

SPRING 2004

Adjunct Lecturer: Gardiner Hallock

Monday 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Combs

COURSE SYLLABUS

Description

The primary focus of this seminar course will be on the designed landscape. The first two-thirds of the class will explore the field of landscape architecture with a concentration on garden design. The last one-third of the course will focus on preservation techniques for a variety of landscapes, including gardens, cemeteries and battlefields. Because the purpose of the course is multifaceted, students will be introduced to a wide variety of topics: (1) the significant European landscape precedents that eventually influenced landscape design in the U.S.; (2) some of the designers who have played a major role in the development of the field of landscape architecture; (3) the evolution of landscape design in the U.S.; and (4) the preservation of designed landscapes in the U.S. The course will be divided into three main sections: Overview of the History of Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design in the United States, and Preservation Techniques for Landscapes.

Requirements

1. Assigned readings and participation in class

On specified dates in the course, discussion sessions will be held based on assigned readings which will be on reserve in the HISP Department (bottom drawer of the left filing cabinet). Students may take articles out of the department to copy or read them, but should not keep them longer than one night.

2. A one to two page Creative Landscape Essay (a more detailed description of the assignment will be handed out in class)

3. Two tests (fill-in-the-blank and short essay)

Test 1: Overview of the History of Landscape Architecture (Due February 9)
Test 2: Landscape Design in the United States (Due February 23)

4. Designed Landscape Experience - Field Visit Descriptive Analysis (Due April 12)

The purpose of this assignment is to give students the opportunity to visit a designed landscape outside of Fredericksburg and apply knowledge learned in the course in order to write an analysis of the site.
Each student will select a designed landscape to visit after the first section of the course. Landscapes can be selected from a list of appropriate designed landscapes in the area or students may suggest landscapes to the instructor. Criteria for an appropriate landscape include: (1) a true designed landscape; (2) a visitor/tourist destination (as opposed to a private garden, etc.); (3) a site large enough to provide sufficient material for analysis and a sequence of spaces for the visitor experience.
Each student will write a paper describing the landscape visit in terms of its design components. How do the design aspects manipulate the visitor experience or affect how the visitor views the site? Students will describe the experience of moving through the designed space. Are any landscape design precedents evident? Is the design successful? Each student will also take photographs of the major design components of the landscape and complete a drawing (not to scale) of the site to illustrate the analysis and submit them with the paper.

There are a wide variety of designed landscapes in the region that can be used for this assignment:

Washington, D.C. area - Mount Vernon, Dumbarton Oaks, Tudor Place, Arlington National Cemetery, National Arboretum, Roosevelt Island, Rock Creek Park
Charlottesville area - Monticello, Montpelier, Penn Park, The UVA Lawn (with associated Pavilion Gardens)
Richmond area - Agecroft Hall, Virginia House, Maymont, Hollywood Cemetery
Williamsburg area – Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown National Battlefield
Landscapes Outside the Region - Students going home on Spring Break may want to suggest appropriate designed landscapes in their own hometowns or regional areas.

5. Final Exam (not cumulative) based on lectures and assigned readings for the section on Preservation Techniques for Landscapes.

All assignments must be completed in accordance with the guidelines contained in A Manual for Writers (6th ed.), Kate L. Turabian.

Grading Criteria

The course requirements will be graded on a point system in order to enable students to keep track of their progress easily. The point system is as follows:

50 Class discussion and participation
50 Creative Essay
100 Test 1
100 Test 2
100 Designed Landscape Experience Paper
100 Final Exam
500 Total Points

Individual Assignments

For individual assignments, each student will be given a point value. The percentage can be calculated by dividing the point value by the total number of points available. For example, if an assignment is worth a total of 50 points and a student receives 44 points, the equivalent percentage is 44/50 or 88% (a B+). The instructor will typically give students both the point value and the equivalent percentage when handing back assignments.

Grading Scale

For individual assignment grades

A 100% - 94%
A- 93% - 90%
B+ 89% - 87%
B 86% - 83%
B- 82% - 80%
C+ 79% - 77%
C 76% - 73%
C- 72% - 70%
D+ 69% - 67%
D 66% - 60%
F below 60%

For course grades

A 500-470 points
A- 469-450
B+ 449-435 points
B 434-415
B- 414-400
C+ 399-385 points
C 384-365
C- 364-350
D+ 349-335 points
D 334-300
F 299 or less points

Note: No passing grade can be achieved in this course without the completion of each and every course requirement.

Assignments

All assignments must be pledged. In the event an assignment is turned in without being pledged, the instructor reserves the right to withhold recording a grade until an assignment is pledged and resubmitted. Students are expected to abide by the provisions of the MWC Honor Code when completing all assignments.

All assignments must be stapled or paper clipped and are due on the assigned date at the BEGINNING of class unless specified otherwise by the instructor. There will be a 5 minute grace period at the beginning of class while the instructor collects assignments. Any assignment that is turned in after the instructor has collected assignments from the class will automatically be marked down the equivalent of one letter grade. Thereafter, for every additional hour the assignment is past due the equivalent of one letter grade will be deducted.

Make-up Tests

A student who has an excused absence (sickness, family emergency, etc.) for any of the tests will be allowed to take a make-up test during the last week of classes. Make-up tests will not be given on any other date. Please note that having another test or paper due on the same day does not constitute an excused absence.

Computer Problems

When completing all assignments, students are expected to allow sufficient time for computer-related problems, including printing. However, every student in the course is allotted one (1), and only one, computer “freebie” for the semester with respect to late assignments. This “freebie” will constitute an exception to the late assignment policy stated above; provided that the student notifies the instructor before class and signs a statement indicating that a technical problem is the reason for the late assignment.

Classroom Behavior

Each and every student is expected to be respectful and attentive when other students are making comments or asking questions. In order to maintain an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and participation, rude and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.

Cell Phones and Pagers

Out of respect for all students, cell phones and pagers must be turned off during the time that class is in session. If a student has an emergency, please ask that someone call the department main number (654-1041) and Sharon Hale will see that a message reaches you.

Required Texts

Birnbaum, Charles A. Preservation Brief 36 - Protecting Cultural Landscapes: Planning, Treatment and Management of Historic Landscapes. Washington, D.C.: Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Cultural Resources, Heritage Preservation Services, 1994.

Birnbaum, Charles A., editor. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes. Washington, D.C. : Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Cultural Resource Stewardship and Partnerships, Heritage Preservation Services, Historic Landscape Initiative, 1996.

Favretti, Rudy J. and Joy P. Favretti. Landscapes and Gardens for Historic Buildings. Nashville: American Association for State and Local History, 1991.

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National Register Bulletin 18: How to Evaluate and Nominate Designed Historic Landscapes

National Register Bulletin 40: Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating and Registering America’s Historic Battlefields

National Register Bulletin 41: Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Cemeteries and Burial Places

*Note: All of the Bulletins are now available on-line through the National Park Service Homepage “Links to the Past”. You can access this homepage through the HISP Homepage. Choose “Preservation Links Beyond MWC”, the National Park Service is the tenth selection. Once you have reached “Links to the Past”, click on “Publications” (at the bottom of the page). Scroll down to “National Register, History and Education Program”, then click on “National Register Publications”. The Bulletins are all under the “Property Types” heading. If you don’t want to download the Bulletins, you may also order them from the NPS (at no cost). The order form is available on the “National Register Publications” page. Be sure to order early.

Instructor Information

Office Hours: Monday 5:45 P.M. – 6:45 P.M. or by appointment

Office: B48
Work Phone: 434-293-7772
E-mail: ghallock@arcadiapreservation.com

Students are encouraged to visit the instructor to discuss class assignments or other topics of interest. However, due to time constraints, visits must be restricted to office hours or appointments. Quick questions or requests should be sent by e-mail.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND READINGS

I. Overview of the History of Landscape Architecture

Week l – 1/12

Introduction; Overview of course syllabus and requirements; History of the Landscape Preservation Movement

Video - The European Garden

Week 2 – 1/19

Overview of Garden Design in Antiquity; Gardens of the European Middle Ages; Renaissance/Mannerism Gardens in Renaissance Italy

Week 3 - 1/26

French Gardens in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries; England and the English School

*Creative Essay due

Week 4 – 2/2

English School continued: Beautiful, Sublime and Picturesque; The Development of the Public Park in England.

Video - Capability Brown

Week 5 – 2/9

Test 1

II. Landscape Design in the United States

Early American Gardens

Reading: Favretti, pp. 3-25


Week 6 – 2/16

United States: Nineteenth Century; Early Twentieth Century American Gardens

Reading: Judith Major, To Live in the New World, pp. 106-134
Reading: Favretti, pp. 26-51

Week 7 – 2/23

Test 2

The Development of the Public Park - United States; Landscape Design in National Parks

Week 8

No Class - Spring Break

Week 9 – 3/1

The Modern Movement; Modernism in the American Landscape; Current theories in American Landscape Architecture; The American Lawn

Reading: Georges Teyssot, ed., The American Lawn, pp. 135-151; 155-191

Week 10 – 3/15

III. Preservation Techniques for Landscapes

Researching Cultural Landscapes and Plan Development

Readings: Favretti, pp. 67-90

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes - Preservation, pp. Intro., 17-45

Week 11 – 3/22

Preserving, Restoring and Rehabilitating Cultural Landscapes

Readings: The Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes- Rehabilitation, pp. 47-88

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes- Restoration, pp. 89-125

Management of Historic Landscapes
Reading: Favretti, pp.163-185; Preservation Brief 36


Week 12 – 3/39

Historic Plant Inventories and Research; Documenting Designed Landscapes; Designed Landscapes and the National Register

Reading: National Register Bulletin 18: How to Evaluate and Nominate Designed Historic Landscapes

Week 13 – 4/5

Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Designed Historic Landscapes; Studying Vernacular Landscapes

Week 14 – 4/12

* Designed Landscape Experience Paper due

Gardens of the Dead; Rural Cemetery Movement; Cemeteries and the National Register; Cemetery Preservation

Reading: National Register Bulletin 41: Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Cemeteries and Burial Places

Week 15 – 4/19

Battlefields and the National Register; Economics of Battlefield Preservation;
Current Issues in Battlefield Preservation

Reading: National Register Bulletin 40: Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating and Registering America's Historic Battlefields

Exam – Date To Be Announced