During the Scan Design Foundation Interdisciplinary Study Tour and Studio program, students experience the Scandinavian approach to the design of public spaces. These spaces are multi-layered, deeply complex, and designed with elegant simplicity. This people-first approach strives to accommodate ecological function and climate adaptation without sacrificing one aspect for another. Through sketching, diagramming, note-taking, and photography, students document these approaches as precedent for their studio work.
Following the trip, the studio begins in Seattle during the autumn quarter. During the studio, students focus on applying lessons learned during the trip to a local site with the guidance of the studio faculty and the continued involvement of a Danish distinguished professor. Each year the studio takes on a different theme based on the project site and needs, but all are grounded in the approaches and experiences from the study tour. This involves working at various scales from districts to design details without compromising human use and ecological function.