Beyond the Lines

Author

Miranda-Max de Beer, Rhode Island School of DesignFollow

Date of Award

Spring 6-3-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)

Department

Landscape Architecture

First Advisor

Elizabeth Dean Hermann

Second Advisor

Courtney Goode

Abstract

Long-held frameworks and philosophies developed over human history have rarely accounted for dynamic flux or shifts between parallel states of being; they’ve ignored the glaring consequences humanity’s brief occupation of the Geologic Timeline will have on the planet. These beliefs have enabled societies to operate through life as if there was no tomorrow, (ab)using the Earth without considering those who eventually reap what’s sown. Beyond the Lines identifies manifestations of the mindset that restricts how we understand living systems and the world around us as so much of what exists in tandem with contemporary society does not adhere to the same labeling schema. The investigation focuses on Iceland, the only place on the planet where the birth of new landscapes converges above the ocean's surface, providing a unique opportunity to study how designers operate in an area knowing that natural processes constantly challenge the human desire for controlled, simple delineation. The thesis ultimately culminates in the proposal of strategies of knowing and designing for sites that are conscious in approach and considerate of hidden multifaceted histories by interrogating constraints long bred into human thinking. The site investigation and resulting design demonstrate strong ties to principles of culturally conscious and considerate strategies.

Comments

View exhibition online: Miranda-Max de Beer, Beyond the Lines

Recommended Citation

de Beer, Miranda-Max, "Beyond the Lines" (2023). Masters Theses. 1039.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1039

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.