Design Studios as Method for Exploring Complex Challenges in the Pearl River Delta

Book Chapter (2023)
Author(s)

D. Cannatella (TU Delft - Landscape Architecture)

S. Nijhuis (TU Delft - Landscape Architecture)

Research Group
Landscape Architecture
Copyright
© 2023 D. Cannatella, S. Nijhuis
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89828-1_6
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Copyright
© 2023 D. Cannatella, S. Nijhuis
Research Group
Landscape Architecture
Pages (from-to)
115-132
ISBN (print)
['978-3-030-89827-4', '978-3-030-89830-4']
ISBN (electronic)
978-3-030-89828-1
Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Abstract

This chapter draws on three different design studios that focus on the Pearl River Delta to discuss what kind of knowledge has been generated within them, and how they can be used systematically as a method to address the region’s complex challenges. The three studios differ in their objectives, duration and structure, but are linked by a research-through-design approach. A selection of some illustrative outcomes is presented and structured around three types of knowledge—project based, form based and idea based—which is typically produced in the design process. This knowledge refers to four main aspects through which it is possible to describe the complexity of the urban landscape, namely time, space, causality and materiality and can be either contextual or generic. Nonetheless, within a design studio, it can be systematically employed to support research activities, speeding up the development of research programmes dealing with complex issues, such as adaptation of fast urbanising deltas.