Urban design skills: observing, interpreting, and representing the city

Lectures: 1 session / week, 3 hours / session

This class serves as an introduction to methods of analyzing, evaluating and recording the urban environment based on field observation. The aim is to supplement existing courses which cover theory and history of city design and planning, and to better prepare students without prior design background for the studio sequence. The course will build skills fundamental to undertaking a wide variety of urban design efforts, including for example: design of streets and public places, shaping neighborhood form and function, and incorporating natural systems into the urban fabric.

Through visual observation, field analysis, measurements, interviews, and other means, students will learn to draw on their senses and develop their ability to deduce, question, and test conclusions about how the environment is used and valued. Through the use of representation tools (drawing, photography, computer modeling and graphics), students will communicate their observations as well as their impressions and ideas.

The course is organized in a workshop/field survey format, supplemented by lectures and evening skill-developing sessions. Work for the class includes class participation/discussion including attending field visits, keeping a sketchbook which will be submitted (at midterm and final) and completing required assignments. Approximately 1/4 of your grade will be for class involvement [comprised of attendance/discussions (15%) and the sketchbook (10%)] and 3/4 of your grade will be for completing three assignments (20%, 20% and 35% respectively). Students are expected to complete short readings in advance of field trips and lectures, in order to better prepare themselves for the topics covered.

The following topics will be studied through the cases:

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