Integrated and Innovative Environmental Design – Research Studio
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ABEE4085 | Department of Architecture and Built Environment | 4 | 30 | Spring China |
- Code
- ABEE4085
- School
- Department of Architecture and Built Environment
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 30
- Semesters
- Spring China
Summary
The Research Studio combines empirical research with propositions by urban planning and design, inviting students to examine the interlinked urban systems and to rethink methods and approaches on how to plan and implement solutions to improve urban social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
The module provides an opportunity for students to identify urban planning and development problems in respect of sustainability. Students will work in teams, linking the critical issues raised in the core lecture courses to examine issues from a broad spectrum of sustainability such as energy, waste, housing, land & ecosystems, mobility, food, water, health & well-being, smart and intelligent built environment, and social cohesion, with the practical analysis of integrated and innovative plan and design strategies at various scale. The module addresses planning and design as both informed and imaginative modes of research and practice that shapes urban environments. It develops student’s individual judgement of the relevance of the wider physical, social, cultural, economic, technical and environmental context of the profession, demonstrated in the planning and design project.
The module also provides students with an appreciation of the complexities of urban planning, governance and development processes, and with interdisciplinary tools for addressing specific urban challenges. Through a mixed-methods engagement with site-based issues, students will be guided to explore the different ways urban sustainable planning and design relates to policy formation, technological system integration, financing mechanisms and the emerging needs of complex urban societies.
The teaching and learning are studio based.
Target Students
Master students
Classes
- Two 3-hour-30-minute workshops each week for 12 weeks
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: Seminar (group work)
- 50% Coursework 2: Story map (group work)
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This studio-based module aims to develop students' abilities and skills to conduct urban research and to create urban spatial interventions for sustainability to a more advanced & complete level. It integrates the physical, economic, social and technical aspects of urban contexts, and promotes ways to analyse these qualitatively and quantitatively. The studio-based approach to learning is an immersion in site-based research and experimental, strategic and pragmatic forms of spatial intervention. Students are expected to produce a well-crafted comprehensive project of some complexity based on a thorough investigation & developmental process.Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
• Develop a comprehensive, evidence-informed understanding of urban sustainability challenges
• Develop an understanding of interrelations among design, planning and politics
• Describe and critique ongoing research and practical solutions to address urban sustainability challenges
• Apply the concept of sustainability to an urban environmental issue of interest through course assignments and a final project to argue for a specific approach to sustainability
• Propose integrated and innovative urban solutions to sustainability challenges
• Evaluate how environmental, social and economic components to urban sustainability efforts influence the environment and society within and beyond cities
• Communicate effectively with urban stakeholders about integrated and innovative solutions to sustainability challenges
• Collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary team environment
Conveners
- Dr Linjun Xie