Course Description

This studio is offered as an exposure to urban design and community revitalization problems and the role of planners in this process. The studio will stress achieving rational as well as creative solutions to urban design and community development problems focussing on the development of transit-oriented communities. It is designed to familiarize students with the scope, process, elements and vocabulary of urban design, particularly as it interrelates with the physical planning process.

Definition: The ethic of urban design is urbanism, and, as such is concerned with the quality of urban environments inclusive of dimensions of civic beauty as well as of functional utility. Successful urban design embraces concepts of livability, a clearly articulated framework of form and space, an expressive and symbolic “sense of place” and is a manifestation of physical, visual and social order. It is also efficient in meeting the purposes and functions it serves. Good urban design embodies meaning and is memorable, learning from - not mindlessly mimicking - history. Urban design is experienced both spatially and as a temporal, sequential experience. Urban design is at once visionary yet incremental. It aspires to timelessness yet is responsive to the evolutionary dynamics of change.

Urban design can be applied “from scratch,” as in a new community or can be employed to improve or repair existing communities. In either case many of the important urban design lessons, good and bad, can be learned by studying existing urban environments.

The emphasis of this semester will be on urban design process, the interrelationship of transit and community viability and principles of sustainability. We will work toward developing an awareness of, and sensitivity to the interacting influences which determine the function, quality and image of existing urban environments. This will be addressed through a sequential series of small problems and one major project in a "real world" setting and stress both rational and creative design solutions within a broader planning framework.

Handouts, readings, lectures, class discussions and slide presentations will supplement the course.

The projects involve individual efforts as well as teamwork and research and readings will be required. Previous design experience and graphic skills are not a requirement. The emphases and components over the semester are:

• A comprehensive understanding of the scope of urban design

• Clear problem identification, definition and goal-setting

• Effective inventory and analysis

• Concept development

• Development and evaluation of alternative solutions

• Effective and creative design development and refinement

• Graphic, verbal and written communication skills

Studio Projects (90%): One major project and several smaller exercizes will be carried out during the semester. The first will be an abstract exercize stressing design principles and the second will be a more indepth exploration of an emerging, tarnsit-oriented community. The projects will require individual as well as team efforts. Research, readings, concept development, design solutions and the preparation of design/development standards will be emphasized.

Research Paper (10%): Each student will also select, undertake research on and prepare and present a paper on a community of his/her choice, preferrrably with and emphasis on urban transit system and a supportive transit-oriented community. It should focus on an analysis of problems and opportunities and apply applicable factors considered in class. A list of possible resources will be provided at a later time. The final report should be 15-20 pages including supportive graphics and resources. A brief presentation will be given to the class, schedule to be announced.