Principles of Urban Development
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ABEE4084 | Department of Architecture and Built Environment | 4 | 10 | Autumn China |
- Code
- ABEE4084
- School
- Department of Architecture and Built Environment
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn China
Summary
This optional module is an introduction to contemporary themes in Urban Design theory and practice at the global scale. The evolution of Urbanism and Urban Design as disciplines, the global process of urbanisation, and the challenges that urban development faces in the contemporary time are the focus of this module. These issues will be introduced by tracing the evolution of Urban Design including how its historical evolution informs contemporary practice and discussing new and emerging phenomena within the Urban Design discipline.
More in detail, the module is organised in three parts: 1) Introduction to the module and historical overview on the evolution of Urban Design as discipline (approx. weeks 1-2); Focus on the six dimensions of Urban Design (approx. weeks 3-7); Monographic lectures on selected themes to understand contemporary conditions and challenges, and investigation specific case studies (approx. weeks 8-12).
Target Students
MSc Urbanism and Sustainable Environments
Classes
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 12 weeks
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: Illustrated Essay (individual submission), 3000 words illustrated
Educational Aims
This module aims at introducing and analysing contemporary Urban Design theories and practices, the global process of urbanisation, and the challenges that urban development faces in the contemporary time, including their evolution from historical practice to develop a critical understanding of the contemporary city. This will include a multi-layered analysis of the practice of Urban Design, focusing on different dimensions: visual, social, functional, perceptual, and environmental. To further investigate concrete outcomes of Urban Design approaches and theories, the module promotes the investigation on relevant global case studies through monographic lectures.Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will demonstrate an understanding of:
1. The influences on the contemporary built environments, the design of cities, post and present societies and wider global issues
(A4, A6);
2. The histories and theories of urban design (A2);
3. The inter-relationship between people, buildings and the environment; and an understanding of the need to relate buildings
and spaces between them to human needs and scale (A1).
An ability to:
1. critically appraise and form considered judgements about the spatial, aesthetic, technical and social qualities of a design
within the scope and scale of a wider environment (B1, B2);
2. independently define and critically appraise their ideas in relation to a design and to the work of others (B4);
3. Produce essays, which are clear, analytical and logical covering a range of urban environmental issues (C1, D3).
Conveners
- Dr Yina Sima