Aims and Fit of Module

The module is designed so that students should have: 

1) an opportunity to evaluate the quality of built environments and practice urban design techniques in a realistic setting; 



2) an opportunity to develop analytical, design, and presentation skills and demonstrate the skills that have been acquired; 



3) a working knowledge of producing a documentary video that records detailed observation of a site and identify key issue of concern with respect to the site; 



4) an understanding of the social, economic and political production of space and have tools to influence this production; 



5) an understanding of the procedures and appropriate techniques required to prepare urban design guidance, proposals and implementation process. 

Learning outcomes

A. Evaluate and compose a concise narrative about a site, undertake a project and produce a consultant-type report.

B. Interpret the particular characteristics and qualities of urban public spaces

C. Frame urban design guidance and confidently prepare urban design proposals

D. Understand the inter-relationship of property development issues and urban design development potential of a site

Method of teaching and learning

Module Structure

The module consists of a series of weekly 1-hour lectures followed by studio-based tutorials and seminars. 



Lectures provide the theoretical basis and methodological tools to formulate a problem, to construct a vision and scenarios, and to design an implementation strategy.


The tutorials are intended to provide guidance on assignments, as well as to develop students’ learning and communication skills.


Seminars are conducted in the form of workshops, discussions on coursework assignments, presentations by the students and reviews in the presence of other staff members or external guests. 



Practical sessions will be given on the use of video and report editing software as necessary.



Context and scales


A large territorial area is proposed to be explored. Specific sites, programs and scale of intervention are defined by the students according to their interest and to the spatial, environmental and socio-economic issues that impact the area. The strategic and temporal dimension of the project is addressed by integrating notions of phasing, implementation, participation and coproduction.  



Site Visits


Students are encouraged to make site visits to build up their knowledge of different types and qualities of places, and to understand their production and usages.



Assignments


Students taking the module are assessed on the basis of group design work and individual design work. Format is a video documentary and a Final Design Report.  Apart from the report, other materials such as physical models, presentations, etc. are also assessed as part of the learning outcomes.