Year 1 - Fall 2007: NRE 587 Landscape as Environmental Media
This is a fast-paced introduction to the processes of "big D" design. Led by instructor Beth Diamond and Graduate Student Instructor M'Lis Bartlett, studio work began with environmental autobiographies. Our class was tasked with visually communicating the happy, horrible and transitional moments in our lives while experimenting with any materials of choice. Pin-up and critique not only encouraged discussion on how to use materials and ideas to fullest impact, but revealed much on the personal backgrounds and interests of our extremely diverse class.One project involved translating 2-dimensional color and form into 3-dimensional landscapes. Each student was assigned a modern painting by masters such as Picasso, Boccioni, and Delauney. Through processes of reproduction, relief-building, and model-making, the landscapes inspired from those paintings were showcased in a critique in the Ford Commons of the Dana Building. It was a unique opportunity to show the work to Landscape Architecture faculty as well as to the SNRE community at large (from which interest and feedback were very positive!).

One project involved translating 2-dimensional color and form into 3-dimensional landscapes. Each student was assigned a modern painting by masters such as Picasso, Boccioni, and Delauney. Through processes of reproduction, relief-building, and model-making, the landscapes inspired from those paintings were showcased in a critique in the Ford Commons of the Dana Building. It was a unique opportunity to show the work to Landscape Architecture faculty as well as to the SNRE community at large (from which interest and feedback were very positive!).

The last project of the semester was a park design for a site in nearby Ypsilanti. Using various historical anecdotes, each student developed three concept schematics that were then combined for an overall park design. While the use of history as inspiration for design resulted in a wide range of ideas and approaches, the process of drawing in conjunction with clay and paper modeling was the primary method in determining spatial relationships and design flow.

Year 1 - Winter 2008: NRE 590 Landscape Ecology
In the Winter 2008 studio, it's all about Patches, Edges, Corridors, & Mosaics - first-year MLAs put the pieces together in Landscape Ecology Design. Officially titled NRE 590: Landscape Ecology as a Framework for Design, Design as a Tool for Landscape Ecology, this lengthy-named studio builds upon the "big D" experience by adding a different dimension. Led by Andrea Urbiel Goldner and Graduate Student Instructor Oliver Kiley, our class is now challenged with developing contextually relevant ecological design. Articulating the hinge between ecology and culture is the driving force of our first design problem, and the process to design is being well supported by the concurrent courses of Site Engineering with MaryCarol Hunter and History: Imprints and Archetypes with Beth Diamond. In just one month of classes, we have been able to utilize the concepts of these courses in draft after draft of evolving park design. Heads buried in trace paper is the typical scene in studio these days.

Year 2 - Fall 2007: NRE 687 Landscape Planning
The landscape planning studio is being taught this year by new faculty member, Chris Ellis. The course has a strong GIS component, and involves the mapping of regional ecological patterns and explores their influence on landscape planning and design. These elements will be applied in the design of community parks, land-use studies, greenway planning, and subdivision development.

The first project focused on a 17,000-acre site consisting of four watersheds. The class worked in groups to analyze the physical and biological factors of the area. Based on this information, students individually worked on developing a greenway, transportation, and land-use plan. The next project will involve looking at the Allen Creek Greenway and designing conservation oriented community development within the city of Ann Arbor.

Year 2 - Winter 2008: NRE 688 Site Planning
The Site Planning studio was the third studio of the three-year and six-studio program. Chet Hill, ASLA, a principle of The Johnson Hill Land Ethics Studio, taught the course. The primary project of the studio focused on a 38-acre derelict brownfield in Ypsilanti, MI. The students formed groups and developed site plans and design concepts to a '60-scale' level of detail. After presenting these plans to guest reviewers and the director of planning for Ypsilanti, the students then developed sections of their site plan in much more detail - ultimately producing a phase-one construction packet containing layout plans, engineering documents, and construction details.

In addition to the primary project and other smaller assignments, such as case studies and engineering exercises, Chet brought in local professionals from the region to present their perspectives and experiences from the field. He brought in general developers, residential specific developers, Engineers, and landscape architects to talk about New Urbanism and designing for commercial/retail uses. He also brought the class to his firm where we learned more about office processes and what really happens in our field.

Overall, the course taught students about the process and work associated with bringing design ideas into reality. A great course indeed!

Year 3 - Fall 2007: NRE 691 Planting Design
Taught by Ecologist and Landscape Architecture Professor MaryCarol Hunter, who takes a new approach to planting design by incorporating meditative techniques to stimulate creativity in the studio. There is a strong emphasis on the use of native plants as well as how gardens and landscapes affect human health and wellbeing. Traditional methods of designing spatially with plants are also covered, and the importance of one's plant palette cannot be overemphasized as Professor Hunter offers mountains of resources and materials on plants and planting design. The projects cover local residences as well as public arenas, and there is even time for valuable experience in client interaction. This is a fun and creative studio that is limited only by one's imagination.

Year 3 - Winter 2008: NRE 787 Metropolitan Studio
Taught by Joan Nassauer, this course is an intense two-credit exercise in urban design that extends only half of the winter semester. It consists of only one project for the duration that includes a visit to the selected site, which in the past have involved urban brownfields. The focus is urban design with an ecological lens; therefore strong emphasis is placed on stormwater management, brownfield remediation, and other urban environmental issues. Albeit compact and intense, this course has produced very compelling ecological designs for urban redevelopment, and has provided critical design challenges for 3rd year MLA students.