Urban Design

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Identify and interpret existing urban design proposals that are relevant to your own work.
• Critically develop a creative and deliverable vision for a places transformation.
• Criticise the character and performance of an urban context and use this as a basis for developing a design proposal for its transformation.
• Appreciate the relationship between cultural and the physical aspects of the urban realm.
• Identify and apply urban design theories appropriate to solving specific design problems at an urban scale.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The relationship between urban design proposals and their physical, cultural and social context
• The ways in which design projects are derived in reference to their context
• The ways in which research and analysis of an existing context can inform an appropriate basis for its future development.
• The ingredients of high quality public space at a range of scales
• The ways in which public space and peoples engagement with it can be transformed through urban design
• The process by which design proposals are successfully developed, and communicated.
• Distinct theories of urban design.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Research and study independently
• Solve urban design problems
• Group Work
• Communication

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Use analysis/research techniques to more objectively understand existing places and the ways in which they might be changed.
• Critically apply an understanding of urban design theories and techniques to the adaptation, improvement and creation of new and existing places at the urban scale.
• Communicate design proposals convincingly by critically selecting and applying appropriate presentation techniques. These will include computer visualisation, graphic, written and oral skills.

• The history of city form
• How to build a city - The Roman Model
• Urban Design theories - the power of an idea
• The ingredients of high quality public space
• Detailing the place
• Making the connections – local distinctiveness and contextual design
• Understanding the context – techniques for the analysis of an urban realm
• The sustainable city
• The development process – Planning, viability and delivery.

The course begins with a series of lectures on core subjects, with an expectation of further private study. These provide student with an understanding of the subject and form the intellectual framework for the project work. The taught courses include – 10 lectures, 1 x 3 hour seminar on urban design theories, 1 site visit, 11 hours of tutorials in support of the assessed project work and 9 hours of collective crits and feedback.

There will be three learning activities that apply and test the students' understanding of the theory presented in the lecture programme. In the first students will prepare a succinct presentation comparing and contrasting the defining characteristics of two cities of their own choosing. These presentations form a shared learning experience. The second is a group investigation into a public space or neighbourhood, applying research techniques that provide insight into the place and provide a basis for deriving recommendations for its future transformation. The final exercise is an individual design proposal for the redevelopment of that location and focuses on master planning specific changes in direct relationship to an understanding of the wider context and established urban design theory. A variety of verbal and graphical presentation techniques will be required including the use of

CAD and computer graphics software.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.