LNAK10084 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 assignment and general literature

Weight: Written assignment counts 40% Oral examination counts 60%



7-point scale, internal examiner
 
Requirement for Attending ExamGroup exercise and individual assignment passed
 
Organisation of TeachingColloquiums based on students' inputs, lectures, excursion and course work in groups and individually. Illustrated assignment to be delivered during the course.
 
Block PlacementBlock 1
Week Structure: A
 
Language of InstructionEnglish
 
Mandatory PrerequisitesBachelor degree in landscape architecture, architecture, planning, geography or similar.
 
RestrictionsMax 50
 
Course Content
The course focuses on selected theories and discourses about 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 - the balance between tradition and modernity
- Place making and the role of public space
- Sustainable urban development and urban landscapes

Central design paradigms, different approaches and view-points about how cities should be designed and transformed will be discussed. The contemporary city will be our case to throw light on how urban design concepts and models have been operationalised and have influenced practice. Academic Reading skills will be trained during the course.
 
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. 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. Visits to sites in Copenhagen combined with an exercise and an individual assignment will illustrate consequences of design approaches in the contemporary city. It is essential that students complete the assigned readings before each class; each participant is responsible for contributing to the colloquiums.
 
Learning Outcome
After completing the course, the students will know central paradigms, discourses, standpoints and approaches to urban design and development, they will be able to use this knowledge in a critical-reflective way in analysing contemporary cities and in their own design work.

Knowledge:
Students will obtain an understanding of central paradigms, approaches, theories and discourses 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.

Skills:
At the end of the course the students will be trained in basic academic reading and writing skills. They 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.

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
Anne Tietjen, atie@life.ku.dk, Forest & Landscape Denmark/Urban and landscape studies, Phone: 353-31934
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Work Load
Colloquia46
lectures35
project work100
Excursions10
examination15

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