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The emphasis of the module is on the application of plant, construction and ecological knowledge to landscape design projects and will be tested primarily through a series of design exercises.

The module introduces the common hard construction materials of concrete, brick, timber, metals and plastics/composites, assessing them in terms of manufacture, potential use, durability, cost, availability and their sustainability. It also considers typical construction elements in terms of use, performance, cultural and geographical distinctiveness, methods of construction, costs, and on-going maintenance

The module also provides the opportunity to further explore the use of plants as fundamental units of natural and designed landscapes; their design potential as structure and ornament; an understanding of their aesthetic characteristics of mass, form, habit, texture, colour and density; the creation of designed compositions of balance, rhythm, scale, proportion, harmony, sequence; and the use of plants as specimens to create focal points.

The module will also consider issues of sustainability and landscape design, including the principles of Sustainable Drainage Systems and the use of sustainability evaluation techniques. Students will consider what effects their selection, specification and organisation of materials and plants will have on the sustainability of a landscape design project.

Drainage Systems and the use of sustainability evaluation techniques. Students will consider what effects their selection, specification and organisation of materials and plants will have on the sustainability of a landscape design project.

i. Knowledge and Understanding
On completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate that they:
a)  understand the principles of designing with hard materials and plants;
b)  can consider the relationship between overall landscape design and its detailing;
c)  can understand the importance of management and maintenance in the discipline;
d) can understand the importance of sustainability in relation to selection and use  of construction and planting materials;
e)  can understand the principles of Sustainable Drainage Systems.

ii. Skills
On completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate that they:
a)  can design with and specify hard landscape and planting materials;
b)  can critically evaluate hard landscape detailing and the use of plants as a design material;
c)  can apply the correct use of discipline specific terminology in relation to construction and plant material;
d) can present work to an appropriate level of written and graphic layout for Level II;
e)  are able to discuss issues of sustainability relative to the specification of materials and plants

Total study time: 300 hours for the module. Of which:
Staff/student contact: 30% (All studio workshop or site visit based. Lectures, tutorials and site visits structured throughout the module. Presentations by students and peer group review of work also in studio).
Student directed learning: 70%

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.