AN “URBAN DESIGN” ELECTIVE COURSE FOR

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Offerred within the Undergraduate Curriculum of Department of Architecture at

Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Gazimağusa, North Cyprus, by

Şebnem Hoşkara & Naciye Doratlı

Urban Design is not simply the

PHYSICAL & VISUAL APPEARANCE of the developement.

It is a PROCESS of making BETTER PLACES• PEOPLE• PLACE (its value & significance)• REAL WORLD PRACTICES (opportunities, constraints, economic & political forces)• PROCESS

The Urban Interface

• Urban design is “located at the interface of between architecture, landscape architecture and town planning, drawing on the design tradition of architecture and landscape architecture, and the environmental management and social science tradition of contemporary planning” (Social Science Research Council)

• Urban design is (mainly) a bridge between ARCHITECTURE & URBAN PLANNING.

URBAN DESIGN

(an attempt to built briges)

ARCHITECTURE URBAN PLANNING

Definitions of Urban Design• Urban design is “the art of making places for people” (Cowan, 2000).• “...urban design should be taken to mean the complex relationship

between all elements of the built and unbuilt space: (DoE, 1996)– the relationship between different buildings; – the relationship between buildings and the streets, squares, parks

and spaces which make the public domain;– the relationship between the nature and quality of the public

domain itself;– the relationship of one part of a villagei town or city with othe

parts;– the patterns of movement and activity which are thereby

established; • “... urban design is about the design, creation and management of

good urban space and places (Rowley, 1994, p. 195).• Urban design “...expresses a concern with the ensemble of buildings

and the spaces between them, the public and private realms created, and their visual and functional qualities, as well as the settings for behaviour and activities they provide” (Punter, Carmona, Platts, 1996)

Dimensions of Urban Design

Through analyzing broader definitions, a number of reoccurring dimensions of urban design become obvious:– the time dimension– the scale dimension– the visual dimension (townscape, urban space, fitting in,

etc.)– the perceptual dimension– the social dimension– the functional dimension– the sustainable dimension

Objectives of Urban DesignCHARACTER• A place with its own identity. To promote character in townscape and landscape by responding to and

reinforcing locally distinctive patterns of development, landscape and culture.CONTINUITY AND ENCLOSURE• A place where public and private spaces are clearly distinguished. To Promote the continuity of street

frontages and the enclosure of space by development which clearly defines private and public areas.QUALITY OF THE PUBLIC REALM• A place with attractive and successful outdoor areas. To promote public spaces and routes that are

attractive, safe, uncluttered and work effectively for all in society, including disabled and elderly people.

EASE OF MOVEMENT• a place that is easy to get to and move through. To promote accessibility and local permeability by

making places that connect with each other and are easy to move through, putting people before traffic and integrating land uses and transport.

LEGIBILITY• A place that has a clear image and is easy to understand. To promote through development that

provides recognisable routes, intersections and landmarks to help people find their way around.ADAPTABILITY• A place that can change easily. To promote adaptability through development that can respond to

changing social, technological and economic conditions.DIVERSITY• A place with variety and choice. To promote diversity and choice through a mix of compatible

developments and uses that work together to create viable places that respond to local needs.

THE COURSE

ARCH 455URBAN DESIGN MAJOR ELECTIVE

byŞebnem Hoşkara & Naciye Doratlı

EMU Faculty of ArchitectureDepartment of Architecture

3 credits / 4 ECTS / 4 course hours

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed as a major elective course for the students who would like to gain a comprehensive knowledge on urban design. The main subject of this course includes the changing roles and meanings assigned to urban design discipline, within the context of globalizing urban conditions.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Based on the subject matter, the main objective of this course is:

– to give an overview of conceptualisation of urban design thought;

– to introduce urban design process;– to provide knowledge on three dimensions of

places – physical setting, activity and meaning.

GENERAL LEARNING OUTCOMES (COMPETENCES)

On successful completion of this course, all students will have developed knowledge and understanding of:– urban design, planning and the skills involved in

the planning and urban design process;– functional, contextual, morphological, spatial,

perceptual, sustainable and social concepts of urban design;

– different dimensions of places being physical setting, activity and meaning;

– process of urban design.

GENERAL LEARNING OUTCOMES (COMPETENCES)

On successful completion of this course, all students will have developed their skills in:– application of urban design process (core academic discipline skill);– having a critical perception on urban spaces (subject specific skill);– design of urban spaces (personal and key skill).

On successful completion of this course, all students will have developed their appreciation of and respect for values and attitudes regarding the issues of:– perception of urban environment;– elements of urban form;– making successful spaces;– use of urban spaces.

CONTENT & SCHEDULELectures are held on Thursday’s (12.30 - 16.20 am) in Studio E08. The lecture topics within the semester are as in the following:

• Introduction to the Course• Urban Design & Making Places• Spatial approaches to urban design• Morphological approaches to urban design• Contextual approaches to urban design• Visual approaches to urban design• Perceptual approaches to urban design• Social approaches to urban design• Functional approaches to urban design• Sustainable approaches to urban design

FRAMEWORK FOR THE CONTENTS (based on Carmona, 1996)

FRAMEWORK FOR THE CONTENTS (based on Carmona, 1996)

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER COURSES

Together with the skills and knowledge gained in Arch 252 Theory of Urban Design compulsory course, this course would have positive contribution to the design of urban spaces of their projects in the following semesters. In addition to this, discussions on ‘Analysis’ stage of urban design process would contribute to the preparation of ‘research files’ for graduation projects. The course has also connections to the following Urban Design Major Elective II – giving an opportunity of application of the urban design criteria thought this course.

LEARNING / TEACHING METHOD

The topics will be lectured with the support of LCD projector. The students are encouraged to participate in the discussions on the course topics – through getting prepared for the keywords of the topics of the course every week prior to the lectures. In addition to this, theoretical lectures are supported by studio exercise to which students are obliged to participate as a part of their learning process.

ASSIGNMENTS• Assignment 1: Find an example urban design project and discuss it with its

type, contents, etc.• Assignment 2: An exercise on the spatial conceptualization of urban design

thought• Assignment 2.1: Design a neighbourhood unit in sketch format• Assignment 3: An exercise on the morphological conceptualization of urban

design thought• Assignment 4: An exercise on the contextual conceptualization of urban

design thought• Assignment 5: An exercise on the visual conceptualization of urban design

thought• Assignment 6: An exercise on the perceptual conceptualization of urban

design thought• Assignment 7: An exercise on the social conceptualization of urban design

thought• Assignment 8: An exercise on the functional conceptualization of urban

design thought• Assignment 9: An exercise on the sustainable conceptualization of urban

design thought• + Studio exercises on each submission

ATTENDANCE & METHOD OF ASSESSMENT &

PLAGIARISMStudents are expected to attend the lectures as regularly as possible. Those who fail in more than 20% of the term would be graded NG and will not be allowed to submit the final term project.

– Attendance & participation to studio exercises: 10%– Midterm exam: 30%– Assignments: 60%

Plagiarism is intentionally failing to give credit to sources used in writing regardless of whether they are published or unpublished. Plagiarism (which also includes any kind of cheating in exams) is a disciplinary offence and will be dealt with accordingly.)

READING LIST• Bentley, (et. Al.), 1985, Responsive Environment, A Manual for Designer, Butterworth

Architecture, Oxford.• Carmona, M. Et.al. (2003), Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design,

Architectural Press, Oxford.• Carmona, Matthew (1996), Controlling Urban Design - Part 1: A Possible Renaissance?,

Journal of Urban Design, Volume 1, Number 1, February 1996, Carfax, pp 47-74• Gehl, Jan (1987), Life Between Buildings:Using Public Space, trans. Jo Koch, Van Nostrand

Reinhold, New York• Gibberd, Frederic (1955), Town Design, London: Architectural Press, 2nd Edition• Hayward, Richard, McGlynn, Sue (1993), Making Better Places: Urban Design Now, Joint

Centre for Urban Design, Butterworth Architecture, Oxford• Lynch, K. (1960), The Image of the City, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. Moughtin, Cliff,

1992, Urban Design: Street and Square, Oxford: Butterworth Architecture• Moughtin, Cliff, Oc, Taner, Tiesdell, Steven (1995), Urban Design: Ornament and

Decoration, Oxford: Butterworth Architecture Trancik, Robert, 1986, Finding Lost Space, New York: van Nostrand Reinhold

• Sitte, Camillo (1965), City Planning According to Arctistic Principles, trans. Collins & Collins

• Zucker, Paul (1970), Town and Square: From the Agore to the Village Green, Cambridge, London, The MIT Press