Elective Course
Credits: 3-0-3 (3 semester hours)
Type of Course: Lecture
Instructors: Richard Dagenhart
Prerequisites: None
Course Overview:This elective course is an introduction to urban design for architects, planners, landscape architects and other disciplines. It parallels two other courses: ARCH4151 – History of Urban Form, taught by Professor Allen in the Fall Semester and CRP6834 – Urban Design Policy, Analysis and Implementation, taught by Professor Dobbins in the Spring Semester. The three together contain the core knowledge of urban design: history, policy, and urban design strategies. The course, with its focus on urban design strategies, has three intentions:
First is to understand the physical framework of the city and how our professional work is situated within it. This framework includes three parts, whether in reference to older cities or contemporary ones: (1) the organization of territory into public and private realms, providing an urban structure – lots, blocks and streets of whatever dimension or configuration; (2) the design of the public domain – streets, parks, public buildings and spaces; and (3) the design of the private domain – houses, shops, offices, churches, parking lots, gardens, etc.
Second is to gain a working knowledge of urban design theory and urban design strategies. This includes the three major movements of the 20th Century - the City Beautiful, the Garden City and the Modern Urbanism of CIAM – and those that are presently being debated - New Urbanism, Everyday Urbanism and Landscape Urbanism.
Third is to learn ten fundamental urban design lessons. These ten lessons are not intended to be principles to be blindly followed, as has often been the case. Instead, these lessons reveal ways of seeing the city, understanding traditional urban frameworks, and guiding decisions for contemporary projects, especially ones own work.
The class will be in a lecture format most of the time with periodic discussions times and some visiting speakers.
Learning Objectives: (See above)
Course Requirements:
- Attend class, complete all required readings, brief assignments, and participate in discussions and presentations as requested. (20%)
- Complete a research and documentation paper on one of the ten urban design lessons presented in class. (50%)
- Complete a brief, but challenging, final examination. (30%)
Readings:
Required Book: Jacobs, Jane (1961) Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House.
The additional required readings will be place in the course folder.