A sculpture-based learning experience in foundational design education: A case study of landscape architecture students

This study examines a sculpture-based studio practice implemented in the Fundamental Design course within landscape architecture education. Rather than directly measuring design success, the research evaluates the effects of this practice-based learning process on students’ understanding of fundamental design principles and the development of their spatial perception. This study is based on a case study conducted with 15 first-year undergraduate students enrolled in the Basic Design course offered during the fall semester of the 2023-2024 academic year at the Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Agriculture, Siirt University. Data were collected through sculpture models produced by the students and a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. The findings indicate that students prioritize fundamental design principles such as emphasis, balance, and appropriateness in their design processes. However, these trends were interpreted as patterns emerging within a specific learning context. The study demonstrates that sculpture-based practices support experiential learning and may contribute to students’ abstract reasoning and spatial thinking. The study’s reliance on a limited sample size and the fact that the data are largely based on student self-assessments point to methodological limitations that must be considered when interpreting the findings. In this regard, the study offers a contextual and pedagogical evaluation of practice-based learning processes in landscape architecture design education rather than producing generalizable conclusions.