Program Overview

Introduction to the Master's Degree Program in Landscape Architecture

The Master's Degree Program in Landscape Architecture is a collaborative effort between the Interuniversity Department of Project and Policy Sciences of the Territory, DIST (Politecnico and University of Turin), and the Department of Agricultural, Forest, and Food Sciences, DISAFA (University of Turin). This program offers a strongly interdisciplinary educational approach, integrating themes of open space design with those of agricultural, forest, and environmental sciences.

Areas of Learning and Competences

The knowledge, skills, and competences provided by the program are divided into three areas of learning, covering the following topics:

• Area of Landscape Analysis and Knowledge
  • Tools, methods, and techniques for analyzing and critically interpreting landscapes, from urban to territorial scales, considering physical, morphological, environmental, and historical-cultural components, as well as ecological functioning, aesthetic and perceptual aspects, and evolution over time.
  • Tools and techniques for reading the characteristics, functioning, and performances of the vegetal component.
  • Physical-chemical and ecological functionality of the soil.
  • Informatic tools for analyzing and representing landscapes.
  • Elements of environmental and applied botany.
  • History of gardens and landscapes.
• Area of Landscape and Open Space Design
  • Theoretical, methodological, and operational tools necessary for elaborating landscape and open space projects at different scales.
  • Sustainability of landscape and open space design.
  • Tools and methods for conscious design action, considering processes, vulnerabilities, and planning and management strategies for the city.
• Area of Conservation and Sustainable Management of Natural and Cultural Heritage
  • Tools, methodologies, and techniques for the restoration and conservation of historical gardens, parks, and landscapes.
  • Tools, methodologies, and techniques for the active conservation of landscapes with high ecological value.
  • Theories of historical garden restoration.
  • Sustainability of restoration and conservation projects for historical gardens and parks.
  • Resilience of the vegetal component in historical gardens and parks.
  • Knowledge of historical gardens, parks, and landscapes.

Program Structure

The program is structured into three phases that develop over four semesters.

• Phase 1, First Semester: Provides monodisciplinary and integrated teachings that offer basic competences necessary for homogenizing the different formative profiles of new students.
• Phase 2, Second and Third Semesters: Constitutes the core of the formative project and is centered on thematic, interdisciplinary design workshops. These workshops allow students to address aspects related to practical knowledge and to experience the main fields of action of a landscape architect.
• Phase 3, Fourth Semester: Completes the formative path through the obligatory internship, the deepening of the English language, and the elaboration of the thesis.

Language of Instruction

The Master's Degree Program is taught in Italian and provides a common formative path for all enrolled students.

Conclusion

The Master's Degree Program in Landscape Architecture offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the study of landscape design, analysis, and conservation. With its structured program and focus on practical skills, it prepares students for a career in landscape architecture, equipping them with the knowledge and competences necessary to address the complex challenges of sustainable landscape management and design.