En landskapsarkitekts konstnärliga praktik

The Artistic Practice of a Landscape Architect: Knowledge Development through an Autobiographical Study Abstract In our society, creative design and art processes are becoming more important. This study examines those processes through close, intrusive observation to gain a better understanding of them. In landscape architecture, most of these processes take place outside academia, in professional practice, where visual and figurative representation and argumentation are dominant. But if we are to take landscape architecture in new directions and extend it into new fields in response to society’s current and future needs for new landscapes, we must develop new concepts that bring a more conscious and advanced approach to the discussion. The aim of this thesis is to investigate, understand and reflect over knowledge development in the artistic field of landscape architecture. The primary objectives have been to study the artistic practice of the landscape architect, its fundamental premises, its content, its expression, and its process of realization. It has also been important to find and develop concepts and tools for communication and argumentation about this practice that are useful for both professional practitioners and researchers. The research methods are qualitative and interpretative. The work consists of an introspective and autobiographical study at different generative levels: an empirical level, a deeper thematic level, and a reflective level. It examines a series of landscapes that includes urban access roads, memorial sites, and parks. The most important conclusions can be described in five sentences. First, the thesis contributes to the development of a methodology for studying the artistic aspect of architecture in an explorative, narrative way. Second, it extends the elaboration of scientific methods specific to architecture into the field of autobiographical and introspective studies. Third, it uses my experience from professional practice to develop theoretical concepts. Fourth, it sheds light on architecture as a figurative science, revealing the importance of representational elements in making and communicating about architecture. Finally, it reveals the situational conditions of design actions.