LAF is currently expanding beyond its book publication efforts to make landscape
architecture case studies more widely available. LAF will be posting case studies
that use the LAF Case Study Method for Landscape Architecture on the LAF web
site, as well as encouraging the development of even more studies.
This will accomplish one of the original goals of the series,
as put forth in the 1999 LAF Case Study Method for Landscape Architecture, which
was to disseminate the case studies online, presenting "specific cases, baseline data,
and images searchable by topic, problem, location, use, goal, etc." The online database
will become more comprehensive over time, and the search function will be designed to
correlate with the complexity of the site as it develops.
The case study series, which provides in-depth analysis of
important places and critical issues, has published four case studies with Island
Press and is in the process of contracting with the University of Washington Press for
publication of a fifth case study next year.
In the meantime, the LAF Case Study Method for Landscape
Architecture (Mark Francis, 1999) has been adopted as the required format for
graduate and undergraduate theses in landscape architecture, architecture and
planning at California Polytechnic University, University of Washington, University
of Nevada in Las Vegas, and Kansas State University. The University of California
at Berkeley, Iowa State University, University of Illinois, University of Oregon,
Louisiana State University, and the University of Miami are also using the LAF method.
With many schools, individuals and firms conducting
case studies based on LAF's Case Study Method, a critical mass of in-depth
studies of places and issues has been developed.
Both the published and online case studies offer informed,
thoughtful criticism from multiple perspectives-those of the designer, developer,
user, interest groups, and others, often in their own words. Just as important,
because each of the cases is based on a common format, projects can be compared.
The case studies offer intelligent, thought-provoking
commentary, a compilation of research findings, and original material in a highly
illustrated format that respects the needs of its various audiences.
Patrick F. Mooney, FCSLA, of the Landscape Architecture
Program at the University of British Columbia, stated, "Case study research is the most
important research vehicle available for improving the practice of landscape
architecture, in all its forms. This work [LAF method] has set the standard for case
study research in our profession. The work is comprehensive, coherent, clear and
well organized."
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