ARC 560R/696
Sustainable Urban Design of the City

Instructor: Simon Atkinson

This studio is particularly suitable for students undertaking a Master of Architecture Degree or M.S.A.S. in Urban Design, Preservation, or Design With Climate, or student of advanced standing in the M.Arch., B.Arch., or M.S. CRP, wishing to specialize in urban design. It is advised to undertake this studio in association with the urban design theory seminar.

The studio acts as both a seminar and research inquiry, and incorporates extensive field work. Students will be expected to undertake the equivalent of two weeks away from the school on a field trip. The studio also demands a high level of commitment to both group work and the development of individual design performance.

The aim of the studio is to undertake a detailed examination of large sections of cities to understand both how they were made, and how they currently function. Extensive mapping work is undertaken in the first part of the studio, including GIS, and extensive email and phone inquiries to determine the current functioning of a particular aspect of the city. Emphasis is placed upon areas that are facing community problems, redevelopment projects, former industrial sites, and disaggregated parts of the city.

A variety of projects are developed, both using a group basis, and undertaking individual exploration. Each project has a common grounding in understanding the infrastructure and fabric of the city, its historic evolution, its current economy, environmental problems facing the given area, and understandings of the prevailing community and political situation. Work is addressed at the scale of the city, but students are equally expected to be able to work at a detailed scale considering issues of streetscape and building design. There is scope in the studio to develop more specialized inquiry into aspects of sustainability. By this is meant the ability of cities to become more integrated in serving a wider range of social and economic agendas, to be less demanding of energy resources and hence self-sufficient, and to be essentially long-life in commitment to future infrastructure and buildings.

The environment of the studio is one of a community learning experience and requiring a high level of engagement throughout the semester. It is generally not suitable for students who have substantial other commitments, or who are still at a a beginning or intermediate level in their advanced studio work.