The aim of this MFA Research Documentation is to present the ideas behind the photographs produced during the MFA Degree. In Chapter 2 I will briefly analyse photographers who have influenced or provided structure for my practice. In Chapter 3 I will detail my earliest work and follow with an analysis of the recent projects completed within the research time frame for this MFA Degree. These recent projects have been summarised under the following headings: Transition, which explores the different stages in the architectural construction and deconstruction process in particular sites that would generally be considered unpresentable - sites that are in either a state of decay or dereliction or a state of re-building; Frontier, which looks at new housing developments in outer Sydney suburbs and examines the influence of social imperatives and relevance at a time when aspects of environmental concern are at the forefront of social commentary; and Monolith, examines the remnant modernist vision of high-rise residential architecture, in Sydney and London. Land Mark Architecture ??? in an age of non-discovery is the urban landscape of landmarks and marks on the land. They should be viewed in the context of documentary photography. I have ignored the buildings that are deemed landmarks, and by following a less obvious path, have explored local, unclassified, and aesthetically uncertain areas of the built environment.

Thesis (M. L. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Includes special report study entitled: From components of temporary structures to integration of vegetation. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M. L. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes special report study entitled: Visual changes and perception as moving in urban fabrics. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Throughout the world increasing use is being made of native plants in urban landscapes, both to preserve regional visual character, conserve native biodiversity and to reduce energy inputs in the urban landscape. In Saudi Arabia most designed urban landscapes employ non indigenous plants. This use of exotic plants is problematic as these species require considerably more water and maintenance, This study establishes a basic understanding of the use of twenty Saudi indigenous plants for semi-nature landscape. We have identified the suitable methods for breaking dormancy and the germinating of these species. We have also selected the most appropriate time for germination by defining the optimal germination temperature of each species. In general most of these species were found to have adaptation to cope with water stress and salinity. For most of these species the maximum germination percentage was at the temperatures between 20 T and 30 T. Competition is one of the most important factors which controls the success of a sown community. Therefore we have investigated the establishment of species in mixture under simulated Saudi conditions using microcosm competition experiments within communities of native species. The results show that in the survival of sown species soil moisture stress was the major factor determining survival. Greater competition for moisture was demonstrated in the weedy treatment. It is clear that weeds would be a problem in practice in the field in dry climate. In terms of the growth of these species, at high water stress; weeds are less competitive than under low water stress. Therefore on very weedy sites irrigation would not be valuable in practice. Cutting may be helpful for the establishment of these species within a community in weedy sites. Overall, the results of these studies demonstrate that these twenty Saudi indigenous species could be used in landscape within the target species method where plants are grown individually or in-groups of one or two species. Also they can be used within the target community method for creating communities in practice in semi-natural landscape projects in Saudi Arabia.

The aim of this MFA Research Documentation is to present the ideas behind the photographs produced during the MFA Degree. In Chapter 2 I will briefly analyse photographers who have influenced or provided structure for my practice. In Chapter 3 I will detail my earliest work and follow with an analysis of the recent projects completed within the research time frame for this MFA Degree. These recent projects have been summarised under the following headings: Transition, which explores the different stages in the architectural construction and deconstruction process in particular sites that would generally be considered unpresentable - sites that are in either a state of decay or dereliction or a state of re-building; Frontier, which looks at new housing developments in outer Sydney suburbs and examines the influence of social imperatives and relevance at a time when aspects of environmental concern are at the forefront of social commentary; and Monolith, examines the remnant modernist vision of high-rise residential architecture, in Sydney and London. Land Mark Architecture ??? in an age of non-discovery is the urban landscape of landmarks and marks on the land. They should be viewed in the context of documentary photography. I have ignored the buildings that are deemed landmarks, and by following a less obvious path, have explored local, unclassified, and aesthetically uncertain areas of the built environment.

Thesis (M.L.A.)--University of Guelph (Canada), 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.L.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes special report study entitled.

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2003. / Appendix consists of reprints and manuscripts of four papers. Includes bibliographical references. Also partially available online in PDF format; online version lacks appendix.

<p>This study investigates the links between urban form and process as evidenced by buildings. Specifically, the objectives of the study are to describe, explain and interpret the post-WWII evolution of the Durand neighbourhood, an inner city residential area in Hamilton, Ontario. The focus in these objectives is placed on viewing buildings as markers or symbols of the forms and processes which characterize the inner city. Using a variety of primary and secondary sources of information, the postwar evolution of Durand is reconstructed featuring ‘place/space vignettes’ which illustrate the significance of buildings on urban landscape. The findings suggest that buildings, in addition to being the products of broad societal forces, can also be viewed as spatial manifestations of actions by individuals and groups acting as knowledgeable agents. In Durand, the ideologies and aspirations of the residents and other key participants are evidenced by the fates of individual buildings. Taken in their totality, the buildings which compromise this urban landscape are both products and symbols of a variety of forces which shape our cities. This study demonstrates that a closer inspection of the urban landscape’s constituent elements, e.g., buildings, can enhance our understanding of the city. It is argued that such a ‘closer inspection’ is possible through an interpretive approach to the study of urban landscape. And while such an approach contains its own inherent limitations, it does provide insights into the urban landscape which otherwise might remain inaccessible.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (M. L. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes special report study entitled: Lighting and nocturnal landscape. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.