Sustainable Urbanism Project
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ABEE4082 | Department of Architecture and Built Environment | 4 | 30 | Autumn China |
- Code
- ABEE4082
- School
- Department of Architecture and Built Environment
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 30
- Semesters
- Autumn China
Summary
The Sustainable Urbanism Project 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
- One 7-hour workshop each week for 12 weeks
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: Portfolio of plan/design projects, models, reports and sketchbooks and individual student briefing document
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 the module students will:
• understand the nature, purpose, and methods of urban research, planning and design, as well as the role and relationships of the professional urban planner & designer;
• generate outputs of real project of urban research and planning, including site analysis report, policy recommendations, master plans, development frameworks, urban design codes, and design guidance;
• develop skills to define and analyze issues/problems in the fields of urbanism and sustainability;
• be able to develop independent understanding and evaluation of urban (sustainable) development, planning/design, and governance;
• understand and employ multiple methods in conducting their research and design projects;
• understand urban physics principles and demonstrate the ability to apply them in urban environmental design;
• be able to plan, undertake and synthesize a research and plan/design project;
• be able to do context analysis that convers various scales;
• be able to employ digital tools to conduct data analysis, evaluation, and assessment, informing policy-making and urban master planning and design;
• be able to communicate their ideas fully in both oral and written/graphic forms to other professionals, including policy-makers, urban planners/designers, and local communities;
• be able to use multi-medias to document and demonstrate their research and design project;
• be able to develop research, analytical and writing skills;
• to work independently, as a self-motivated individual, as well as collaboratively, for both research and plan/design work.
Conveners
- Dr Yina Sima