There has been an unprecedented urbanisation around the globe. This course aims to provide students knowledge and a set of tools to approach issues pertaining to urban space. By studying some of the issues in world cities as well as theoretical approaches to them, the course trains students' ability in observing and analysing urban space and in envisioning the city in the future.
(1) To experience the pleasure of noticing elements surrounding your everyday life in urban space and to reflect on ways these elements condition your activities and that your activities reshape your relationship to them.
(2) To understand the functions and meaning of these architectural elements in the city
(3) Based on (1) and (2), students will be able to notice social issues of the city and to begin to think about ways to tackle them applying concrete strategies.
Design of urban space, smart city, compact city, human scale, diversity, activities, biophilic city, sustainability, human rights, technology,
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
The course consists of two parts. In the first part, students discuss their weekly assignment to grasp the basic concepts explained in the reading. In the second part, the tutor gives a mini-lecture on the topic of the week and students discuss key ideas about the lecture.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Introduction to the course; Constellations of urban space | Students overviews the course and understands the background of the course content |
Class 2 | Creating Great Places - 6 Approaches | Students understand key issues, approaches, and problems involving urban space in different parts of the world |
Class 3 | Compact city, smart city and the sense of place | Students learn key issues, approaches, and problems about compact city, smart city and community-building. |
Class 4 | Human scale and the study of activities in the city | Students learn a genealogy of the concept "human scale" and how it is applied to place-making around the world. |
Class 5 | Biophilic city and sustainability | Students learn the concept of biophilic design and its applications around the world. |
Class 6 | Review of the course: discussion for the group presentation in week 7 | Students prepare their group presentation. |
Class 7 | Presentation session | Students give a group presentation and have an overall review of the course |
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Handouts are distributed via T2Shola.
More details are provided in class.
Contributions to group discussions: 35%
Assignment: 30%
Presentation or film making: 35%
Intermediate or advanced listening and speaking skills in English
Content of the course and the class style are subject to change depending on the number of students and their interests.