The design studio as liminal space

This study focuses on the efficacy of design studio as a form of teaching and learning, where traditional approaches can act to position the tutor as a defender of the knowledge community rather than a discourse guide for the student. The broad curriculum of architectural education with its divergent outcomes resulting from project based learning also makes it difficult to agree on what constitutes the fundamental elements of the curriculum. The research used an approach based on threshold concepts to assist in identifying and overcoming these shortcomings. Such approaches have been described as 'liminal': holding the learner in a supportive 'in-between' state where learning resources can be directed to that which is troublesome and conceptually difficult. The study involved the use of practices to identify troublesome knowledge in design studio and conceptualise blended learning as part of a liminal studio space.

Linking the ecosystem service approach to social preferences and needs in integrated coastal land use management - a planning approach

Coastal zones with their natural and societal subsystems are exposed to rapid changes and pressures on resources. Scarcity of space and impacts of climate change are prominent drivers of land use and adaptation management today. Necessary modifications to present land use management strategies and schemes influence both the structures of coastal communities and the ecosystems involved. Approaches to identify the impacts and account for (i) the linkages between social references and needs and (ii) ecosystem services in coastal zones have been largely absent. The presented method focuses on improving the inclusion of ecosystem services in planning processes and clarifies the linkages with social impacts. In this study, fourteen stakeholders in decisionmaking on land use planning in the region of Krummhörn (northwestern Germany, southern North Sea coastal region) conducted a regional participative and informal process for local planning capable to adapt to climate driven changes. It is argued that scientific and practical implications of this integrated assessment focus on multifunctional options and contribute to more sustainable practices in future land use planning. The method operationalizes the ecosystem service approach and social impact analysis and demonstrates that social demands and provision of ecosystem services are inherently connected.