310085 Theories of Urban Design

Details
Responsible DepartmentForest & Landscape

Earliest Possible YearMSc. 1 year to MSc. 2 year
DurationOne block
 
Credits7.5 (ECTS)
 
Level of CourseMSc
 
ExaminationFinal Examination

oral examination

Portfolio Examination


All aids allowed

Description of Examination: Oral examination based on the delivered essays + general literature.

Weight: Each essay counts 33% Oral examination counts 33%



7-point scale, internal examiner
 
Requirement for Attending ExamTwo illustrated essays, delivered during the course.
 
Organisation of TeachingColloquiums based on students inputs, lectures, excercises, excursions and individual course work. Illustrated essays to be delivered during the course.
 
Block PlacementBlock 1
Week Structure: A
 
Language of InstructionEnglish
 
Mandatory PrerequisitesBachelor degree in landscape architecture, architecture, planning or similar.
 
RestrictionsMax 40
 
Course Content
The course focuses on selected theories and debates about urban design and in particular ecological and sustainable urban design. Urban design is here understood in a broad sense, encompassing visions and plans for the morphology of cities and the interplay with liveability and ecology. In other words, visions and ideas about the ideal city and good urban life through the last century are in the centre of this course. This is however a broad issue, and thus the course will concentrate on three main themes, which have over time been essential to urban development:

- From pre-modern to post modern design
- Place identity and the role of public space
- Sustainable urban development and landscape urbanism

Central design paradigms, different approaches and view-points about how cities should be designed and re-designed will be discussed. The contemporary city will be our case to throw light on how urban design concepts and models have been operationalized and influenced practice.
 
Teaching and learning Methods
Colloquiums including students' presentations of the day's reading will be the backbone of the course structure. Focus will be on discussion points between texts, to enhance the understanding of different views and approaches to urban development, and experience that there is not "one truth". This will be supplemented with lectures giving overviews or illustrating how different approaches have been implemented in urban development and how different approaches affect contemporary cities. Excursions - IRL and virtual - will also illustrate consequences of theoretical approaches in contemporary cities. It is essential that students complete the assigned readings before each class; each participant is responsible for contributing to the colloquiums. Two illustrated essays are to be delivered individually during the course.
 
Learning Outcome
After completing the course, the students will know important theoretical standpoints and approaches to urban design and development, they will be able to use this knowledge in a critical-reflective way in their own design work.

Knowledge:
Students will obtain an overview of advanced approaches, theories and discussions about urban design in the 20th century and till today, understand central points of discussion between standpoint, their background and context, and their effect on contemporary cities. The focus will be on pre- to postmodern urban design, place identity and public space, and sustainable urban design.

Skills:
At the end of the course the students will be able to use urban design theories in a critical-reflective way, and to develop positions of their own.
They will be able to show this ability in oral, written and graphic form in the form of short illustrated publications (essays) and oral presentations in class.


Competencies:
At the end of the course the students shall be able to use theoretical points of reference when making their own project proposals and when relating to issues of contemporary urban design.
 
Course Literature
The main book will be:

Larice, Michael and Elizabeth Macdonald (ed): The Urban Design Reader. The Routledge Urban Reader Series, Routledge, 2007.

Additional literature available during course.
 
Course Coordinator
Gertrud Jørgensen, gej@life.ku.dk, Forest & Landscape Denmark/Urban and landscape studies, Phone: 353-31828
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Work Load
Colloquia46
lectures35
project work100
Excursions15
examination10

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