Planting Design

Faculty

Faculty of Agricultural Science and Landscape Architecture

Version

Version 1 of 13.08.2025.

Module identifier

44M0550

Module level

Master

Language of instruction

German

ECTS credit points and grading

5.0

Module frequency

only summer term

Duration

1 semester

 

 

Brief description

The use of plants as a living material in landscape architecture is subject to constant changes in artistic changes in the artistic debate and functional consideration. In addition to historical styles, protagonists in the use of plants and their engagement with the and their engagement with the plant as a material play a decisive role. For an understanding of current, social, ecological and economic problems in the design of open spaces, historical and contemporary approaches historical and contemporary approaches to the use of plants will be analysed scientifically and and to derive consequences for future action. The discussion of the topic The discussion of the topic will be consciously conducted in an international context, measured against reality through personal experience and presented and presented discursively.

Teaching and learning outcomes

1. importance of perennials and woody plants in gardens and parks and their historical development.

2. functional properties and effects of woody plants and shrubs with current social relevance (climate change), such as urban climate tolerance, retention, improvement of the microclimate, etc.

3. atmospheres of woody plants and perennials

4. historical and contemporary protagonists and planning approaches to plant use

5. ecology of designed plant communities

6. connection between design intention, plant dynamics and management

Overall workload

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

Teaching and learning methods
Lecturer based learning
Workload hoursType of teachingMedia implementationConcretization
30Seminar-
Lecturer independent learning
Workload hoursType of teachingMedia implementationConcretization
40Presentation preparation-
35Reception of other media or sources-
20Preparation/follow-up for course work-
25Creation of examinations-
Graded examination
  • Homework / Assignment or
  • oral exam or
  • Oral presentation, with written elaboration
Recommended prior knowledge

none

Academic Innovation

Students who have successfully completed this module will be able to place different approaches and theories of planting design in a historical and scientific-theoretical context and derive impulses for their own designs.

Communication and Cooperation

The students can visualise designs for planting design and discuss them controversially with experts.

Literature

Dunnet, Nigel & James Hitchmough [Ed.] (2004): Dynamic Landscape: Design, Ecology and Management of Naturalistic Urban Planting – Naturalistic Planting in an Urban Context. Taylor & Francis Ltd.

Gerritsen, Henk (2014): Gartenmanifest. Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart.

Hitchmough, James & Ken Fieldhouse [Ed.] (2004): Plant User Handbook. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.

Hitchmough, James (2017): Sowing Beauty. Timber Press.

Kühn, Norbert (2011): Neue Staudenverwendung. Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart.

Oudolf, Piet & Noel Kingsbury (2013): Design trifft Natur – Die modernen Gärten des Piet Oudolf. Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart.

Robinson, Nick (2004): The Planting Design Handbook. 2nd Ed. Ashgate Publishing, Farnham.

Schacht, Mascha (2012): Gartengestaltung mit Stauden – Von Foerster bis New German Style. Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart.

Applicability in study programs

  • Building – Environment – Management
    • Building – Environment – Management M.Eng. (01.09.2025)

  • Landscape Architecture
    • Landscape Architecture M.Eng. (01.09.2025)

    Person responsible for the module
    • Bouillon, Jürgen
    Teachers
    • Bouillon, Jürgen
    • Ranck, Christian