Communique 2012: Peter Connolly - Myths of open systems-oriented design of cities/landscape 
(Lectures)
8 May 2012
12 pm - 1 pm
Venue: Conference Centre Lecture Theatre, Building 423, 22 Symonds Street
Host: School of Architecture and Planning
Cost: Free
Contact info: Natalie Guy
Contact email: n.guy@auckland.ac.nz
Website: Communique 2012
Sponsor: New Zealand Wood
Peter Connolly initiated RMIT’s Masters by Design Research programme in 1995, internationally the first design research degree in landscape architecture. He is currently Programme Leader of the Master of Landscape Architecture by Design Project programme at Unitec. He has also taught at the University of Pennsylvania, at the invitation of James Corner.
His research focuses on understanding how landscapes function as open systems and the implications of this for the production and development of a landscape architectural urbanism. Open systems thinking is arguably the dominant influence on architecture, landscape architecture and urbanism, especially ‘landscape urbanism’. Open systems theorists stress the importance of employing theory that is adequate to real examples and reality, and not just applying existing theories to the world. Interestingly, the dominant models pay scant attention to what landscape actually does.
From Connolly’s extensive case study work it is obvious that the dominant models have very received ideas about how landscape functions, ideas that effectively disempower landscape, despite the seductive impression that landscape has been empowered. His talk will outline some key myths of recent thinking and practice and sketch out an alternative way to think about open-systems oriented design of landscape.
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