Date of Award

5-2020

Degree Type

Report

Degree Name

Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)

Department

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning

Committee Chair(s)

Benjamin George

Committee

Benjamin George

Committee

Keith Christensen

Committee

Jody Clarke Midura

Abstract

The fields of landscape architecture and literacy have the potential to be linked through a simulated environment. Through this connection, opportunity for education arises. This thesis creates and describes a program called Bookscapes, which presents a narrative inside a simulated landscape for the purpose of communicating landscape architecture/urban planning principles.

Bookscapes is a stand-alone computer program designed using theories in education and guidelines for virtual and restorative environments (including Huang’s elements, Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory for restorative environments, constructivist theory of situational learning) and the revolving design process in landscape architecture’s communication to clients through 3D modeling.

This thesis first discusses the literature and foundational framework behind the creation of Bookscapes, and why creating a program that will engage users in a narrative is important and relevant today. This section also talks about how the field of landscape architecture uses 3D modeling techniques to design, setting the stage for combining both disciplines of Narrative and Landscape Architecture into one unified program.

Next in this paper is a description of the physical and philosophical creation of Bookscapes in the methodology which includes 9 steps including: book selection, a site visit, architectural and historical research, sketch studies, 3D modeling techniques, preliminary renders and edits, mood and texture studies, programming, and finally the completion of the process resulting in a program titled Bookscapes.

A proposed study is discussed in the appendix to test if Bookscapes has the potential to increase immersion and interest to create a higher level of recall in students who use Bookscapes to learn about landscape architecture principles. This appendix discusses proposed testing instruments, testing environment, and sample size. All the information in Bookscapes is also available in a paper packet. The paper packet can be used to asses user interest, learning, and immersion as it compares to the computer program version. The proposed instruments to measure these factors are a self-recorded pre and post-test which can be found in the appendix.

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