The Scan Design Foundation Master Studio combines international study experience with multi-disciplinary collaboration on local projects to develop planning and design solutions for Seattle’s public realm.
Before the studio, students travel to Copenhagen, Denmark to visit the office of the renowned Copenhagen firm Gehl Architects and see the city through its people-centered urban design lens. For two weeks, students are immersed in the design and planning strategies that make this one of the leading cities in bicycle and pedestrian planning and one of the “most liveable” in the world through site tours, office visits and lectures with the municipality and leading firms and practitioners that focus on public space, bicycle urbanism, climate adaptation, and urban play. Upon returning to Seattle, students focus on applying the lessons learned to a local site, and continue to benefit from the involvement of a Danish Master Teacher acting as visiting instructors and critics. Past Master Teachers include Louise Grassov of Schulze + Grassov, members of Gehl Architects, and Bianca Hermansen of Cititek. Scan Design Foundation is generously supporting this Master Studio and the Travel-Study experience. Past project partners include the City of Seattle and the International Sustainability Institute and the International Living Futures Institute.
This program is led by Professor Nancy Rottle, RLA, FASLA (Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture; Director, Green Futures Research and Design Lab; Adjunct Professor, Departments of Architecture and Urban Design and Planning).