Alpine Landscape and Architecture
Alpine Landscape and Architecture:
Pastoralism and More-than-Human Perspectives
Teaching format:
Topics are presented by the guest lecturers, applying mainly PowerPoint tools. The slides will be available, and additional teaching material might be provided by the lecturer. In the seminar part, students will shortly present topics related to case studies and the more-than-human atlas. On an excursion, the practice of analyzing mountain landscape and architecture.
Course description:
Alpine landscapes are understood here as high-altitude and mountain ecosystems, not limited to the Alps. This course examines how mountain communities shape landscapes through architecture, with a particular focus on the role of non-human actors in landscape management. It combines socio-environmental theoretical and practical approaches, using frameworks such as Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and More-than-Human theories to investigate high-altitude landscapes. Students will explore case studies from the Italian Alps and Turkey’s Black Sea Mountains, examining how climate, vegetation, and animals historically influenced design practices prior to the rise of mass tourism and modern architecture in mountain regions. Through a multidisciplinary lens that integrates architecture, landscape architecture, ecology, and ethnography, students will develop practical skills in cartography and the creation of a More-than-Human Atlas to critically address cultural and ecological challenges in mountain design. The course also examines landscape architecture through the perspective of vernacular architecture, emphasizing a holistic approach to design.
Course objectives
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Examine how mountain cultures and communities shape landscapes and architecture.
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Introduce TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) and More-than-Human theories for understanding interactions between humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems.
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Analyze case studies from the Italian Alps and Turkey’s Black Sea Mountains to highlight cultural and ecological diversity in high-altitude environments.
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Provide practical skills in mapping, NDVI analysis, and landscape assessment techniques.Integrate design, ecological, and ethnographic methods to form innovative approaches to mountain landscapes.
Learning outputs
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A field-based landscape atlas documenting pastoral systems through mapping, photography and analysis
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Cartographic maps including NDVI analysis and spatial data interpretation
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A more-than-human landscape diagram illustrating ecological relationships between humans, animals and environment
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A conceptual design proposal for a mountain pastoral landscape
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A research booklet combining field notes, drawings and visual documentation
