Interactive Landscape by Shaoda Huo

INTERACTIVE L ANDSCAPE SHAODA HUO MLA CANDIDATE 2016 Rhode Island School of Design 1

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Landscape Architecture Degree in the Department of Landscape Architecture of the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island. By Shaoda Huo Date: May 26th, 2016

Approved by Masters Examination Committee:

Scheri Fultineer, Department Head, Landscape Architecture

Nick De Pace, Primary Thesis Advisor

Katy Foley, Secondary Thesis Advisor

Contents Overview

Site

Phase I Exploring

Phase II Testing

Phase III Being applied

Overall Assessment

Overview

My thesis is a discussion of Interactive Landscape which is about offering a new position for landscape architecture in the relationship with people when the two interact with each other and predicting what new experience we can bring to people. My thesis is not only about resolving problems I found on the site of Washington D.C., but also asking general questions on the field of landscape architecture and then discovering these questions based on the research I made. The chosen site, Freedom Plaza can be regarded as the first ground to test my proposals. Interactive Landscape is a big word which contains lots of layers inside. Phase I is the time to let me get a glimpse of the topic I chose and set up the goal for the other phases. In the this phase, I try to define the term“Interactive Landscape” and keep asking the questions like: “What is the definition of Interactive Landscape? What kind of landscape project can be called Interactive Landscape? Where is the boundary between them? Doesn’t all landscape interact with people?” “What is the advantage of Interactive Landscape compared to the ‘noninteractive’ one? Is all interaction good? Should all projects be interactive? When do the people need interaction?” “What is the difference between different types of Interactive Landscape? How many ways can I find to group them?” “Which type/types of the Interactive Landscape is/are the one/ones I am interested in?”

Phase II is the month to integrate the idea of Interactive Landscape with time and space. The idea is transferring from paper to the ground. This Phase begins with the site visit in Washington DC. Looking closer to the site and finding the visible and invisible opportunities for Interactive Design is the purpose for this visit. Lots of sketch models and drawing will happen in this phase, to find out the best way to apply these ideas on the site. A proposal will be brought up at the end of this Phase. Phase III is the time to make the proposal come true and make the conclusion of this discussion. The conclusion should be made from the point of whole landscape architecture field, rather than just from the perspective of the chosen site. Final drawings and models are going to be made to illustrate the general ideas to people. This book is trying to offer people an instruction of using interactive design ideas in landscape projects, through my own testing on Freedom Plaza.

Site

Freedom Plaza is chosen as the thesis site, originally known as Western Plaza. It is in the Northwest part of Washington, D.C., located at the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, adjacent to Pershing Park. Designed by Robert Venturi, the plaza was constructed in 1980 and is mostly composed of stone. Most of the plaza is raised above street level. The western end of the plaza contains a large fountain, while the eastern end of the plaza contains a statue. Facing the plaza, is District of Columbia government Building. Three large hotels are to the north and west. The plaza was renamed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., who worked on his â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Have a Dreamâ&#x20AC;? speech in the nearby Willard Hotel. Freedom Plaza is a popular place for political protests and civic events, because District of Columbia government Building and White house are just at the corner. My thesis is happening on this site, but more than the site. Freedom Plaza can be regarded as the first ground to testify my proposals. Freedom Plaza

Phase 1 Exploring Precedent Study, Definition

Abstract

My thesis is a discussion of interactive landscape which is about offering a new position for landscape architecture in the relationship with people when the two interact with each other and to predict what new experience we can bring to people. Interactive Landscape is a big word which contains lots of layers inside. In Phase I, I am trying to define the termâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Interactive Landscapeâ&#x20AC;? and finding out the ways to group these layers through hundreds cases study.

Introduction

Phase I, I start from my interest on Interactive Design and try to dig deeper on the theory level, which will support my proposal in next 2 phases. I spend most of time on studying hundreds Interactive Design cases. The purpose is trying to find out the features that be able to make these design interactive, and applying these features on my own design.

Methods

1. Precedent Study 2. Data Collection 3. Data Comparison

WHAT IS INTERACTIVE LANDSCAPE?

The landscape created in the urban environment which can communicate with people mutually and reciprocally. It is offering an opportunity to people to stay in this landscape, to communicate with this landscape or the people in it, and leaving with a fresh experience. An interactive landscape should be responsive, active, sensitive, and in a constant dialogue with us as users or inhabitants.

WHY IS INTERACTIVE LANDSCAPE? The study of INTERACTIVE LANDSCAPE is offering a NEW POSITION for landscape in the relationship with people when the two interact with each other and predicting what NEW EXPERIENCE we can bring to people. from ‘PASSIVE’ to ‘ACTIVE’ from‘INVISIBLE’ to ‘VISIBLE’ from ‘REACTIVE’ to ‘INTERACTIVE’

INTERACTIVE DESIGN PROCESS

+ XXX

CHANGE/CREATEI

INTERACTIVE XXX

PARTICIPATION

USERS

THE FEATURES OF INTERACTIVE DESIGN [ What features make a landscape interactive? ]

DESIGN

APPEARANCE

CHANGE

SHAPE/FORM PATTERN/PICTURE SCALE 2D 3D VISIBLE INVISIBLE VACANCY ENVIRONMENT TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY MAKE THE CONTRAST FUNCTION

INTERACTIVE DESIGN

COMBINING REVERSE SENSATION

ENHENCED ADDING

STIMULATION AND ATTRACTION

CURIOSITY POSSESSIVE INSTINCT MANIPULATIVE INSTINCT NATURAL/GENERAL INSTINCT IN DEMAND MEMORY RECALLING

INTERACTIVE DESIGN

PARTICIPATION

USERS NEW EXPERIENCE NEW INFORMATION/DATA NEW IDEAS MEMORY RECALLING

PROJECT: The Waterfall Swing Rockefeller Plaza, Temporary Combining Function: swing+waterfall One to One+Instant Reaction Technical Specifications: Solenoids, Controller, Encoders for position sensing, Software, Water Flow, Pump, Frame

Findings + Conclusions

After doing date collection and comparison of hundreds interactive design cases study, I make some progress on these questions: 1. ”How to define Interactive Landscape?” The landscape created in the urban environment which can communicate with people mutually and reciprocally. It is offering an opportunity to people to stay in this landscape, to communicate with this landscape or the people in it, and leaving with a fresh experience. An interactive landscape should be responsive, active, sensitive, and in a constant dialogue with us as users or inhabitants. 2. “What is the meaning to investigate Interactive Landscape?” The study of Interactive Landscape is offering a new position for landscape in the relationship with people when the two interact with each other, from passive to active, from invisible to visible, from reactive to interactive and predicting what new experience we can bring to people. 3. “What features can make a design interactive?” Showing in Diagrams. 4. “Is there a level system of interactive design?” Yes. There is a level system. Different design will response to people in a different way. The system does not have a common standard to decide which one is more interactive and it may vary by different projects and people.

5. “More Interactive=better design?” Interactive design will continue developing rapidly in this information era. It can bring more communications between design and people. It can stimulate the potential of the space, which can show the scenery we never experienced before. However, sometimes people may not need that much commutation and response from design. So it is crucial to look closer what our site and clients need. 6. “What are the similarities of the material using in interactive designs?” Clearly showing in Diagrams.

7. “What is the target for next phase?” Integrating the idea of Interactive Landscape with Space and Time is the goal for next phase. I will keep building the theory foundation of Interactive Landscape and trying to adapt my idea to the site(freedom plaza). More effort on the site, more opportunities I may get to start my design proposal.

Assessment

In the first phase of thesis study, I start from my interest on interactive design, and try to adapt it to the landscape architecture field, which I believe is happening in this information era. I spend most of my time searching and studying the different types of interactive design and try very hard to find out the principle leading this type of design. I also study the similarities of material features which can help me start my design in next phase. After the review, I realize that site is also an important part of my design. I have been studying the history, ecology, geology and lots of perspectives of the city of Washington D.C. since last semester. I should take advantage of this knowledge and let site play a more important role of my design. That is the first step of integrating interactive landscape with time and space. Besides of that, it is better to think about the design from a city perspective, in a larger scale, rather than a element or installation. Human scale is also important, but a design of urban scale can be more meaningful for the landscape architecture field. And now my purpose of design is too general. It can not provide enough driving force for me to start in next phase. I need to be more specific on my proposal, thinking about what I can really bring to the city.

Phase 2 Testing

Site Analysis, Ideas Testing

Abstract

In the second period, a design Strategy for the interactive landscape need to be proposed. I want to find out the way to integrate interactive ideas with Space and Time, and offer a thought about adapting the design to the Site. Learning from making. Keep making things and learning from them will take most part of my time in this period. Arduino testing Models should be finished at the end of this phase.

Introduction

Phase II, I keep developing the ideas of interactive design, no matter using Arduino or not, and trying to find the similarities and differences from these ideas. Lots of testing models are made in the ways integrating with space and time to test these ideas. Meanwhile, the site is getting more important for me. The design ideas should grow from the site. I go back to Washington DC during Spring Break and make more observation and generate more thought on the site.

Methods

1. Precedent Study 2. Model Making 3. Ideas Testing 4. Sketch Drawing

Similarities

Arduino

STUDY MAP This is the map showing how I push my study forward in Phase II. Basically, Site Analysis and Model Testing are the two main strategies I use. The purpose of my idea is to reactivate the site when there are no evens happening. The Interactive Design will be the tool to discuss this question. In this process, people as the users follow the guideline I set for the design and also can get a surprise, no matter from the new experience or new information, and generate a new perception on this landscape design project.

With Te

Withou Tech

Perception

PEOPLE

Surprise

Information

Experience Re-activate

ech

INTERACTIVE LANDSCAPE

Re-activate

SITE

Testing Ground

Freedom Plaza

Site Report

ut When there is no show on the stage

WHEN THERE IS NO SHOW ON THE STAGE Site Report: Freedom Plaza

? First part is site analysis. This spring break I went to Washington DC to look closer to my sitefreedom plaza. I feel my design should come from the phenomenon of the site, rather than my interest on the Arduino or interactive design. It can help me set a clear concept of design, answer the question â&#x20AC;&#x153;what I will bring to the cityâ&#x20AC;?, and generate a clearer thought to push forward the design. The basic goal of activating the site, creating more interactions with people stays the same. The Arduino or interactive design as a tool can help me zoom in to the question I want to solve. 28

ORIGINAL DESIGN

Venturi’s original design included the large models of the Capital and White House. They want visitors to be more involved on this plaza. However, government thought these models are too playful for the site, therefore the models were removed from the final design. The ground pattern of L’ Enfant’s plan is the only thing left, which is not necessarily apparent to visitors.

COMPARISON

Freedom plaza functions differently from other nearby parks (Pershing park, Franklin square, Farragut square). Vegetation and furnitures are located in such limited area. Programs and activities are created in nearby parks. Freedom plaza is just an empty place inlaid with a plan and quotes about the city.

DIMENSION&DISTRICTS

B A 160 feet

700 feet

Resting

150 feet

Map area

Section B-B

Ramp area /Skate boarding 600 feet

Section A-A 31

CIRCULATION

Circulation is very important, especially for my design. The key concept of interactive design is the engagement and communication between people and design. Most design ideas are driven by the movement of people. On my site, people, especially the tourists, go across my site on the edge of Pennsylvania Ave, which connecting the Capital building and White House. Besides, a short cut connecting two entrances in the middle of plaza, was used frequently by the people who are working nearby.

VIEW POINT

Freedom Plaza offers a great view of capital building no matter in the day or night. This background of US government attracts lots of tourists or locals taking photos here. This image of country is also one of the reasons for the protest events choose to happen here.-

SPATIAL QUALITY Freedom plaza is surrounded by Government buildings, Hotels, Theaters, Restaurants. They are all buildings more than 6 floors. Comparing with the flat plaza, the contrast gives us the feeling of “a theatre”. And when you Google the “freedom plaza”, aerial photos comes out mostly. It is like a stage for people to observe and to take photos.

ACTIVITIES Young people like playing skateboard on the specific area on the plaza, because the ADA ramp and stone benches can offer a good facility for skateboarding. It brings liveness to the site, meanwhile damages the surface of granite. Other than that, only activities are monthly big event, like protests and festivals, bringing thousands people. Regular Time Local people: Short stay(<30min): lunch break, short conversation, cigarette time Pass-by: short cut Tourist Short stay(<5min): take a rest, look at the ground Pass-by: other destination( mall, white house, capital) EVENT Time (Protest and festival) Thousands of people

http://washingtondc.eventful.com/venues/ freedom-plaza-/V0-001-000952780-0

CLIMATE

There is no shade on the central plaza, so it is not comfortable for using in summer, and its wideopen design provides no shelter from winds on cold days. This situation makes it difficult to bring any types of programs into the site during these weathers. This collage shows how I feel when I walked on the plaza first time in the summer, which is the reason to push me to choose freedom plaza as my site.

THOUGHTS

This â&#x20AC;&#x153;stage phenomenonâ&#x20AC;? is not only happening on freedom plaza. Nearly every city has a space that functions like a stage. How can we take the advantage of the emptiness when there is no show on the stage? How can we let people use freedom plaza freely all the time no matter there is an event or not? Performance should be played on the stage all the time. Next step will be using the interactive design as the tool, to reactivate the site.

REACTING (motor)

ANALYZING ANALYSING

(arduino)

RECEIVING (sensor)

Motor Speaker Pump Display Switch Control

Programming

PeopleD

istance-Movement/Gesture/Speed Sound-Voice Pressure-Touch Smell-Flavor

EnvionmentT

emperature-Climate/Weather Light-Time of the day Humidity/Moisture Pullution Wind

BASIC ARDUINO

Arduino as one of the tool of my topic, plays an important role in the design process. The work process for this microcontroller is similar to the way human acting in our life. Its working process can be divided into 3 parts: receiving information by different kinds of sensors, importing the data into the micro-controller, the Arduino board, and responding to these data by the output devices, like motors, LEDs and so on. It is as same as the process human working. Sensors act as the eyes and ears. Arduino board is the brain and the output are the hands, feet and mouth. It is like giving a life to a landscape project. 39

SINGING PLANTS (capacitive sensor-arduino-speaker) The first experimental Arduino model is transforming the plant we see everyday into different types of instruments. The capacitive sensor will read the capacity change of the plant when people touch or get closer to it. That change will generate the different tones of sound through speaker.

LIGHT PAVILION (light sensor-arduino-fan) The second Arduino model I made is a pavilion using the fan as the top canopy. The idea is trying to bring shade to the site, which can offer people a place to stay. Besides, with the fan moving, the shadow pattern underneath is changing, which can attract more peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention.

SPINNING MIRROR (distance sensor-arduino-motor) The third model is trying to capture peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movement. The spinning motor will generate the changing patterns on the surrounding reflective surfaces.

FLOWING EDGE This prototype model shows how edge condition and inner space changing at the same time. The idea is built based on people's curiosity to discover what is happening on the back of the thick stick fence. When they trying to move it to make an entrance, they are making the space in the middle, which will influence people's path choice when they go across the plaza.

PAVER HOLE What will you do when you find a hole on the ground ? And if you look closer, you will find there are more and more paver layers underneath. Will you build something by yourselves using the materials from the site? This is also a protype model to give people a chance to build something by their own.

TILTED GROUND The tilted ground is a model to show how to find a balance point when your interest compete with the otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Ground is built on the spring plate. Different point of ground represents different people's interest. When people gathering in one point, that point will get down, which will let other two point rise up. Communication will happen when all the people trying to get what they are interested in.

WALL GAMES The spinning walls allow the plaza to record the paths people choose when they moving across it. The interaction is made between people and the spinning walls, the people going across earlier and the people going across later.

GALLERY SHOW Gallery show is happening from April 10th to April 15th. It is a good opportunity to show other people in the building what we are doing for the thesis work. I showed the “singing plant” and the “window-blind drawings” (on the right page). The idea is showing the interactive concept, to let audience get involved in my works. They can generate the sound by touching the plants, or they can play with the blind to see the overlapping effect when the two put together. And I think I did what I want to achieve at this point.

A B Begin of Design GUIDELINE

GUIDELINE

SURPRISE RN HT TO LEA WHAT I WA 56

from Design to Build

Finish of Build

C D

SURPRISE The process of designing interactive landscape is like designing a game for people to play. A series of guidelines should be set up for people to follow, letting people play it under the rules. This guideline can not be so rigid, which may decrease participantâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s initiatives.

IT IS A GAME, BUT BEYOND THE GAME.

Reactivating the site is the first task we should gain. Besides from that, the design is also trying to achieve the goal to bring something new. It could be the new phenomenon we never realize before, or the new information we never know. This surprise is the final goal we want to get. Letting people enjoy the game, meanwhile everyone can get something from it. It is a game, but beyond the game.

Findings + Conclusions

After making testing models and site analysis, I make some progress on these points: 1. Integrating the interactive design ideas with time and space. By doing the models, I am trying to find out the way to make the design more spatial, rather than just an installation. 2. The new perspective for the site. After the site visit, I got more first-hand information, especially the circulation system. Even though the “stage phenomenon” is just a phrase to describe the problem I find before, I feel it make my design concept more solid. It is a good start to discuss the interactive landscape proposal. 3. The working process for Arduino. By doing multiple Arduino models, I am more familiar with the working process of it. And the “receiving-analyzing-reacting” process can be applied to many cases. 4. The final goal of interactive landscape. The goal of interactive landscape is making it a game, but beyond a game. So people can still get something new when they enjoying playing in the game. The key is how you set up the guideline for the game.

5. The similarities and differences between the design with and without technology involved. The goal is same: attracting more people and activating the site. The driven power and the material choices are different. Without technology: the manpower is the driven power and the material usually need to be flexible and flowing. With technology: you can take advantage of different kinds of power, like electricity and transform it into the movement. Material choice has less limitation. You can use the mechanical system to make the inert things movable.

Assessment

The second phase is ending much sooner than I thought. I spent lots of time making models and testing ideas, but sometime I ignore the reason which push me to make it. I was fascinated by my own ideas, and choose to regard the plaza as a piece of paper. After coming back from the Washing D.C. in spring break, I decide to start my argument from the observation of my site. Even though I begin to analysis and work on it, I still believe the idea that ”the plaza is too flat to limit my design proposal”. After review, I find out I am used to choosing the flat site and regard it as a flat surface, which simplifies my design. It makes my design lose the property of growing from site. For the time schedule, I should choose to do something more important for demonstrating my design idea. Because I will not have time to do anything. I spent hours building a concrete case for my “singing plants”, which can not be used in the final. When I begin to build the final model, I should have a clearer plan.

Phase 3 Being applied Ideas are happening on the site.

Abstract

In the third period, making the design idea happen on the site is the way to testify the logic of the strategy chosen in Phase II. The goal of design should be achieved by looking closer to the need of site and applying the design strategy on it. Thinking through drawing and model making, is the way to push the design proposal move forward.

Introduction

At the beginning of Phase III, the types of interactive design ideas are decided. The time is spent mostly on the 2 parts: exploring the chosen design ideas and applying the ideas on the site. Through making more models, I explore the possibilities of one idea by considering the need of site. I also try to combine different types of interactive ideas into one proposal, to make every layer overlap together to get the final picture. Arduino model takes me a long time to make, because it is so easy to make mistake in the making process.

Methods

1. Model Making 2. Ideas Testing 3. Sketch Drawing

Idea Exploration- SINGING PLANTS The first model I chose to explore is “singing plants”. I develop the “touching” concept to make it function differently in different time of the day. From “touch-sound” to “touch-light”, the model is studying more possibilities for the use of plants material in daily life.

Idea Exploration-FAN PAVILION In this phase, I try to use Fans in different ways to create different programs. Different height of fans, different directions for wind blowing, different condition on the ground, all combining together can create multiple possibilities.

PLAZA AS A STAGE - SITE MODEL After making the site model, people can clearly tell the plaza is built as a stage. The edge condition and ground pattern can be read more easily.

EVENTS SCHEDULE IN 2015(right) Finding more detailed information about the event time on Freedom Plaza, showing people that the events only occupy little time compared with the whole year.

PURPOSE-FIRST LEVEL 70

PURPOSE-SECOND LEVEL 71

PLAN PROCESS The connections are created in fan layer, vegetation layer and function layer.

PLAN

PLAN (night)

DAILY VIEW

ENVIRONMENT DAY

NATIONAL DAY

THE NIGHT VIEW The LED on each fan working together can generate the pixelate picture on the night. The pattern can be chosen based on the topic of the day.

SECTION A-A

SECTION B-B

SECTION C-C

PERSPECTIVE-SITE MODEL

DETAILED MODEL

MODEL MAKING

PERSPECTIVE- VIEW OF NATIONAL MALL

PERSPECTIVE- EVENT TIME

PERSPECTIVE- THE NORTHEAST ENTRANCE

PERSPECTIVE- VIEW FROM THE SURROUNDING BUILDING

THE THESIS STRUCTURE Five layers happen in different phases.

WORKING PROCESS FOR INTERACTIVE LANDSCAPE DESIGN The ideas from designer plays a more important role in this design process comparing with the other design projects.

Findings + Conclusions

1. The fan pavilion, as a core strategy for my project, is still being a imaginary element for people to project it on the site. So more work should be done to make it more realistic. Like considering the solar panel as the power side, knowing how much space of solar panel do I need to power one fan can give me more data support to decide how many fans do I need. 2. The testing is the most important part for the interactive design projects, especially when it is integrated with the technology part, like the Arduino board I am using. Because even when I am doing this simple project in a very stable environment, there are still lots of unexpected problem coming up to disturb the original plan. I spent 3 more days to finish only 50% of my original plan on models, which is a good lesson I have learned here. 3. Interactive Landscape projects is still in a experimental phase. Landscape project takes long time to build. The complex outdoor situation will make it have more possibilities to make mistake. And once you find the mistake after everything is being built, it is just not as easy as tearing down a model. So even though if there is an opportunity for me to make my projects happen on the real site, I choose not to do it. And besides it, sometimes the sensor is not working well, especially when uncontrolled number of people showing at same time. 4. In the interactive landscape projects, designerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s idea is playing a more important role in the design process, because people are looking for something new, something they have not experienced before.

5. Different interactive ideas can weaving together on the site as one proposal. As designer, we need to understand the connection between each tactics and try to find a way to combine them together, and fulfill the need of site at same time. 6. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;surpriseâ&#x20AC;? of game is a high level goal of this kind of project. The project should have the potential to let people keep their curiosity for a longer time, rather than playing just for one time.

Assessment

In the third phase, the last phase, I set up my general design proposal at the beginning, in order to win more time for myself at the end. However, models take so long time to build, which make me change the whole plan. More detailed problems should be taken into consideration, after making the decision of a general idea. Even though some of them are so realistic, you have to think the question in a practical way. I should stick to my schedule to balance every part in the final producing period, which could let me make more progress on the drawing part.

Overall Assessment

Final Conclusions

Interactive Landscape is a tool. What I am doing in these months, is trying to write an instruction for this tool, figuring out the best way to use it. The function of this tool is not only creating an attraction, getting peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention, but also satisfying the need, solving the problem on the site. That is the difference between an interactive design project and an interactive landscape project. The scale and size is not the standard for telling if an interactive project is an interactive landscape project, the concerning for the site is. The core of interactive landscape design is people. When you start to look at a project, the information related with people, like circulation, activity and so on is the one you should consider firstly. An interactive design, is trying to create as many opportunities as possible to interact with people. There are thousands of ways to interactive with people and activate a site, but there is only one is the best choice for this site. At beginning, I always believe that, a good idea can be applied into any sites. But after doing more research and test, I realize only the one can satisfy the need of the site is the best one for the site. A good idea can attract people for a short time, but it can not grow on the site. When people get used to the new idea, it will lose its ability as an interactive tool. So when you are doing interactive landscape design, an idea growing from site is what you are looking for. I am trying to study two types of interactive landscape, one is technology included, one is not. I can not tell there is a distinct boundary between them, but the one working with technology has a clearer path to follow. Arduino is one example, which is widely used nowadays. It is a micro-computer board,

working as peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brain to deal with the simpler orders. It should work with the input element and output element. Many kinds of sensors can be used as the input, which can sense different aspects of people. The output is always related with the need of site. It can be motors, lighting elements, water elements and so on. This receiving, analyzing and reacting process is how it functions. For the current situation, it is difficult to make it function well in the real project. There are too many uncertainties happening on the installing and using period. The unstable and fragile of the technology is also one of the soft spots in this field. That is why most ideas are happening in the gallery as a temporary project, rather than being built on the site as a permanent project. There is still a long way to go.

Final Assessment

I am glad to choose Interactive Landscape as my thesis topic. From the beginning to the end, I always have the passion to keep exploring it. Through a semesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s study, my understanding on interactive landscape is getting much deeper. The order for me to explore this idea is a little different. The interactive landscape idea is coming from my own interest. So I did not choose the site at the beginning. I study hundreds precedent and try to find the similarities of them. Because the site come into the design process later, so I can have a broader view to look at the whole field. It helps me not limit myself in a single topic, but get a chance to put interactive landscape in a point beyond site. One important thing for me in this exploring period is I can understand the difference between a interactive landscape project and a landscape design project.

of this semester, I did not start thesis project instantly in a clear direction, which slow down the whole thesis process. Overall speaking, I think I get the chance to achieve the goal I set in Phase I. I am able to think the whole process of interactive landscape design in the testings I made in different phases. The lost part is that the design is still not practical enough. People can imagine the perspective of my project as a future view. But it is difficult to persuade them the idea will work at current situation. One more layer about practicability should be added on the project, even though the chosen strategy may be not mature.

The arrangement of time is taking an important role in the thesis project. Using time in an efficient way is always being the goal I am trying to achieve, especially in this short semester. You need be more precise about what you should do and what you can do and what you are good at. For example, in phase III, I underestimated the difficulties of making models. The model making takes me so long time that there is only one day left for making boards, which give me a hard time to show the whole information in the presentation. And I am trying not to make a decision at the final moment to win myself some time on producing works. The works I was doing in Phase I is the work I should have finished in last semester. Even though we spent lots time finding out our own interest, just few of us settled down the topic at that point. So at the beginning

Bibliography

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