Dr Jan Woudstra
PhD, MA (Cons), Dip Hort (Kew)
School of Architecture and Landscape
Reader in Landscape History and Theory
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+44 114 222 0609
Full contact details
School of Architecture and Landscape
Floor 12
Arts Tower
Western Bank
葫芦影业
S10 2TN
- Profile
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My research activity has been guided by a general concern for the quality of the built environment. It has aimed to increase knowledge within the landscape profession and to challenge perceived notions about landscape design and research.
This has included turning practical issues, which unlike theoretical discourse were not previously considered as a suitable academic subject, into internationally recognized scholarship. For example, research in the history of planting design has been pioneering and it informs and challenges notions of innovation. Yet there has also been research into theoretical issues, in order to encourage different approaches and attitudes in the profession.
Following my training in landscape design, horticulture and conservation at Frederiksoord, the Netherlands, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and at the University of York, I worked as a landscape architect and historian.
Initially in landscape consultancy, I was employed with Travers Morgan in London, contributing to some of the largest conservation schemes of the time, including the restoration of Chiswick House Grounds and the reconstruction of the Privy Garden at Hampton Court Palace that was completed with his own practice EDA Environmental Design Associates in 1995.
I simultaneously studied at the Department of Geography of University College London, completing my PhD entitled `Landscape for Living, Landscape theory and design of the Modern Movement麓 in 1997.
From 1988 I've taught on a part-time basis at the course `Conservation of Historic Parks and Gardens麓, later re-named as `Landscape Conservation and Change麓, at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and have been employed at the University of 葫芦影业 since 1995, where I teach landscape architecture and history. I was Honorary Editor of Garden History from 1998 to 2005.
- Research interests
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History and theory of the modern movement in landscape architecture
One of Jan麓s main interests, which was also the subject of his PhD, is the exploration of international design trends during the twentieth century in order to achieve a fuller understanding of contemporary philosophy and the processes of design.
This is done via the work of individual designers and selected design projects. Research projects include the analysis of designed landscapes, exploring such landscape architects as Leberecht Migge, Heinrich Friedrich Wiepking-J眉rgensmann, Hermann Mattern, Wim Boer, Jan Bijhouwer, Mien Ruys, Christopher Tunnard and Peter Shepheard.
Some of this work is undertaken in association with Professor Peter Blundell Jones, School of Architecture, University of 葫芦影业 and concentrates specifically on domestic scale schemes on which both modernist landscape architects and architects have contributed.
Critical reviews of past housing landscapes have been undertaken and include the work of Peter Shepheard and of Span/ Eric Lyons.
Large scale comparisons of international trends; the issue of memoryWith a considerable understanding of modernist fashions it is possible to put current trends in context. Jan麓s perspective with reference to landscape architecture is with respect to `working with the existing麓, as opposed to providing fashionable `new carpet麓 approaches that treat any site as a blank sheet, thereby lacking references and thus meaning. His subject area reflects both conservation issues and new design, at various levels and scales.
This is important as it embraces not only issues of memory and authenticity, but also sustainability, ecological diversity and social equitability. Research in this field aims to make a profound impact on the landscape profession by influencing both theory and practice and has included the following:
- general assessments and analyses of current trends in landscape design; parks, gardens and housing
- attitudes and approaches to landscape and garden heritage
- detailed analysis of the work of individual designers within their context; thus far a number of landscape architects have been subjected to critical review: Henry Wise (forthcoming), Daniel Marot, Lewis Kennedy and Robert Marnock, besides the aforementioned modernist designers.
History of hard landscape detailing and planting designAn important aspect in the success of designed landscapes is appropriate landscape detailing, combined with adequate maintenance. Like with anything else fashions evolve, and as they do our perception of appropriate detailing changes and historic methods of maintenance are forgotten.
As a result even historically important `heritage麓 landscapes change, and it is this aspect that requires to be guided by a full understanding of the implications of change, which for this reason merits separate study.
Initially Jan麓s research in this field was led by conservation work he was undertaking while in private practice and concentrated on detailed analysis of fashions in planting design and hard landscape detailing in order to repair or reconstruct them. Lately research in this field has been directed towards assisting the improvement and refining of archaeological techniques, by working in co-operation with archaeologists.
- Publications
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- Books
- Journal articles
- Chapters
- Book reviews
- Conference proceedings papers
- Theses / Dissertations
- Other
Books
Journal articles
Chapters
Book reviews
Conference proceedings papers
Theses / Dissertations
Other
- Research group
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Current research supervision includes the following topics:
- History and development of Scenic Sites in Korea
- Garden typologies and urban development in Shanghai (1850- 2010)
Recent research supervision includes:
- Claudia Leticia Mart铆nez Velarde, 鈥楲andscape-led approaches for the regeneration of low-income housing: A cross cultural assessment of social and ecological sustainability鈥, PhD, 2010
- Lei Gao, 鈥楤reaking and repairing鈥: Conflicting values in the historic gardens of China鈥, PhD, 2010
- Kairan Li, 鈥楲andscape improvement and Scenic Sites in pre-modern China: a critical review鈥, PhD, 2009
- Sang Jung Yoon, 鈥楬istory and conservation of gardens in Korea鈥, PhD, 2009
- Vivienne Rose Parrott, 鈥楳oon, magic and Elysium: A study of the design of Uraniborg, the observatory and home of Tycho Brahe on the island of Hven, Denmark (1576-1597)鈥, MPhil, 2008
- Jijun Zhao, 鈥楾hirty years of landscape design in China (1949-1979): The era of Mao Zedong鈥, PhD, 2008
- Hae Joon Jung, 鈥楲andscape as Heritage: a Critical Assessment of the Value-based Approach for the Use of Protecting Korean Scenic Sites鈥, PhD, 2015
- Manoochehr Salahi Moghadam, 鈥楥ultural Landscapes in Iran: The Past, Present and Future of Binalud, a Rural Mountain Landscape鈥, PhD, 2014
- Hossein Donyavi, 鈥楢griculture and water management in the Iranian mountains: traditional methods as a basis for a sustainable future鈥, PhD, 2014
- Sally O鈥橦alloran, 鈥楾he Serviceable Ghost; the forgotten role of the gardener from 1630 to 1730鈥, PhD, 2013
- Teaching activities
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Module co-ordinator for:
- LSC 118 Histories of Landscape Architecture
- LSC 304 Site Planning for Housing
- LSC 330 Site Planning for Sustainable Housing