PLAN40140 Urban Design Studio

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module provides students with an understanding of the urban design process and key aspects of its regulatory context, within a structured, project-based learning environment. Students are introduced to practical approaches for surveying and analysing the core urban design qualities of an urban district or neighbourhood, the strategic role of urban design in making better places, and the role of urban design policy and guidance in shaping ‘good’ urban design outcomes and more sustainable urban places at different spatial scales.

Students work in groups to survey and analyse a selected study district, to develop an in-depth understanding of the urban design characteristics and qualities of the district at different urban scales. Thereafter, drawing upon the analysis, and framed by key elements of national and local urban design policy and guidance, students formulate an urban design strategy for the district. This process involves rigorous proposition, testing, and acceptance or rejection of different urban design scenarios to arrive at a robust overarching urban design strategy for the district, specifying urban design objectives at district/neighbourhood, street, block and building/plot/site scales.

Both analysis and strategy project stages focus upon core urban design considerations including:

• connections and patterns of movement;
• land uses (variety);
• patterns of urban morphology and layout, including urban block typology/design;
• townscape character, place distinctiveness, legibility, and responding to urban context/setting, including consideration of the three-dimensional characteristics of built form (height, massing, continuity and enclosure, human scale), and building and façade design;
• public realm characteristics (hierarchy, frontage conditions, vitality, safety/security, green infrastructure, etc.);
• inclusivity;
• housing mix (including typology and tenure), and residential design quality;
• privacy and amenity, including different types of amenity open space;
• efficiency and development viability;
• adaptability;
• and remaining aspects of detailed urban design, amongst other core urban design considerations.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will have gained the following:
- sufficient understanding of urban design to converse productively with members of other professions in the field;
- experience and understanding of the urban design process from the analysis of a study area, to the formulation of urban design solutions at different scales (e.g. neighbourhood, street, block, and building/plot/site);
- an appreciation of urban context and the effects of intervention into the urban fabric at different scales;
- experience and understanding of the process of option analysis in the selection of urban design solutions;
- understanding of the relationship between urban design (planning) policy and guidance, and architecture, and the relevance of urban design policy and guidance in delivering ‘good’ urban design outcomes and more sustainable urban places;
- observational, analytical and critical skills through the process of examining three-dimensional urban context.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Studio

60
Autonomous Student Learning

140
Total

200
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Active learning;
Individual and group project-based learning tasks (e.g. site analysis; formulation of strategy, brief and design proposals; application of development standards; graphics software; basic drawing techniques);
Problem and case-based learning;
Group work;
Seminars/lectures;
Site visits;
Group and individual presentations;
Discussion tasks;
Critical analysis (written and visual). 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PLAN40300 - Urban Design Studio

Equivalents:
Urban Design Studio (PEP40660)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Group Project: Urban design strategy Unspecified n/a Graded No

25
Assignment: Individual assignment 2 Unspecified n/a Graded No

30
Group Project: Urban design analysis Unspecified n/a Graded No

25
Assignment: Individual assignment 1 Unspecified n/a Graded No

20

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Formative feedback is provided to students on a regular and ongoing basis in studio tutorials throughout the trimester. Verbal and written group feedback is provided to students upon completion of group project work. Verbal and written individual feedback is provided to students upon completion of individual project work.

Name Role
Mr Colin King Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
      
Studio Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 13:00 - 16:50
Studio Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33 Tues 13:00 - 16:50
Studio Offering 1 Week(s) - 22, 30 Tues 14:00 - 16:50
Spring