ARCH 5721
URBAN DESIGN AND PLANNING
2015-16 2nd Term
Instructor:
Francesco Rossini
Office: Room 207 AITB
T: 3943 9839
E: [email protected]
Student Helper:
D ESCRIPTION
This course introduces fundamental concepts and ideas of urban design and planning. The course aims to develop
strategies and proposals to redevelop selected areas using Hong Kong districts as its case study. Internationally
developed approaches and methods will be presented and tested, investigating the key role that the architecture,
combined with the interdisciplinary approach of urban design, can play in creating a better and more livable city.
During the course, overlaps and boundaries between the disciplines of architecture, urban design and planning will
be identified as to facilitate meaningful interdisciplinary thinking and collaborations. This interdisciplinary thinking is
essential to address the complexity of today’s pressing urban challenges.
O BJECTIVES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
To raise awareness of the urgency and complexity of current urban challenges;
To develop knowledge of best practices in urban design, sustainability, and planning for urban redevelopment:
To equip students with an understanding about the potentials and limits of the disciplines of architecture,
urban design and planning to address these urban challenges;
To identify boundaries and overlaps between the disciplines of architecture urban design; planning as a
basis for meaningful interdisciplinary collaborations.
To explain approaches and methods of urban design and planning enabling students to analyse and evaluate
complex urban conditions;
To introduce key aspects of Hong Kong’s planning history and current practice.
LEARNING OUTCOME
Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to analyse and understand the different components that
influence the evolution and the urban structure of the city. Through the study and the application of a strategic
approach students will able to understand the key challenges of urban planning discipline identifying mismatches
resulting from the lack of an integrated planning vision among the various stakeholders and government authorities
involved. At the end of this course students will acquire a method of analysis involving the study of essential areas
for urban design, such as city planning and buildings design, public spaces strategy, and community participation,
ecosystems and transport networks.
ASSESSMENT SCHEME
Assignment 1 - International case studies (group work)
Master plan layout analysis, typology study of the blocks, density and urban form
Assignment 2 - Hong Kong districts (group work)
Background study, study of the urban morphology and building typology, study of the road pattern and street
network, public spaces and design elements, strategic plan and concept proposal for the analysed area of the
district.
Assignment 3 (individual work)
Reflection on the research methods and findings of the district report in form of an individual paper (2000
words). This paper should be used for a deeper theoretical exploration of the research methods introduced in
the lectures.
Assessment is based the evaluation of exercises following the specific criteria outlined in each assignment.
Assignment 1
Assignment 2
Assignment 3
Participation
30%
40%
20%
10%
COURSE F ORMAT
The course is organized according to themes, allowing an overview of different concepts and methods in urban
design and planning. Based on the interdisciplinary nature of the course, specialists of the different disciplines are
invited to share their views and experiences. The first part of the course will introduce interdisciplinary literature
drawn from planning history and theory as well as urban social science focusing on the analysis of international case
studies. The second part introduces research approaches for urban planning and design and tests them using
selected districts in Hong Kong as case study areas. In the related seminar sessions, the introduced research
methods will be applied and tested creating a strategic proposal for the analysed areas. The course meeting time is
Tuesday, 14:30 – 17:15 at Yasumoto International Academic Park, Room YIALT5.
F IELD TRIP
[✓] Yes _[✓] Local/regional
SAME COURSE OFFERED BEFORE (Student has taken the same course is not allowed to retake)
[✓] Yes _Offer year [2014] Term [2] Course code [ARCH5721]
REQUIRED READINGS
a+t research group (2015). Why Density? Debunking the myth of the cubic watermelon. Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t
architecture publisher.
Anne Mikolet & Moritz Pürckhauer (2011). Urban Code: 100 Lessons for Understanding the City. The MIT Press
Gehl, J. (1996). Life between buildings: using public space. Copenhagen: Arkitektens Forlag.
Lynch, Kevin (1960). The Image of the City. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press
Shelton B., Karakiewicz J. & Kvan T. (2011). The Making of Hong Kong From Vertical to Volumetric. Abingdon,
Oxford- shire: Routledge
Whyte, W.H. (1980). The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces. Washington, D.C.: Conservation Foundation.
RECOMMENDED READINGS
Barnett, Jonathan. "Zoning, Mapping, and Urban Renewal As Urban Design Techniques," and "Designing Cities
Without Designing Buildings." In An Introduction to Urban Design. pp. 57- 97 (New York, NY: Harper and Row,
1982)
Busquets & Correa Editor, Cities X Lines, (Harvard University, 2006)
Rogers, Richard, Cities For A Small Planet (Basic Books, 1998)
Rossi, Aldo, The Architecture of the City, (MIT Press, 1984)
IMPORTANT NOTE TO STUDENTS:
Attention is drawn to University policy and regulations on honesty in academic work, and to the disciplinary
guidelines and procedures applicable to breaches of such policy and regulations. Details may be found at:
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/. With
Will each assignment, students may be required to submit a
statement that they are aware of these policies, regulations, guidelines and procedures.
SCHEDULE
Time: Tuesday, 14:30 – 17:15
Venue: YIA LT5, Yasumoto International Academic Park
Week
Date
Topic
1 . 0 i n t er n a t i o na l c a s e s s t u d i es
01
12.01
Urban design and planning
Lecture and course overview
02
19.01
Urban planning and history 0.1
Lecture + Exercise review
03
26.01
Submission exercises + Desk crits
Class presentation
04
02.02
Urban planning and history 0.2
Lecture + Exercise review
05
09.02
No class
Public holiday
06
16.02
Submission exercises + Desk crits
Class presentation
2 . 0 H o n g K o ng d i s t r i c t s
07
23.02
Hong Kong’s land economics
Lecture + Overview 2nd part
08
01.03
Visit to Energizing Kowloon East Office
City field trip (TBC)
09
08.03
Submission exercises + Desk crits
Class presentation
10
15.03
Hong Kong's public spaces
Lecture + Exercise review
11
22.03
Urban design practice
Lecture + Exercise review
12
29.03
Submission exercises + Desk crits
Class presentation
13
05.04
Understanding cities 0.1
Lecture + Exercise review
14
12.04
Understanding cities 0.2
Lecture + Exercise review
15
19.04
Submission exercises + Desk crits
Class presentation