The Shaping of Urban Design

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

144 hours

A background knowledge of architecture, landscape architecture or urban planning is highly recommended.

Graphic skills are essential.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The subject provides a critical introduction to the main theoretical concepts, urban models and design approaches that have shaped the practice of urban design through modern times.

It focuses primarily on those which have appeared as key published works and been generated by architects, landscape architects and planners to influence practice.

It emphasises links between eras (continuities and change), between ideas and practice, and between urban design and the wider landscape of ideas: special attention is paid to the influence of culture, the role and techniques of urban morphology, and the graphic representation/interpretation of concepts, models and places.

Students are expected to demonstrate:

• a critical understanding of key urban design concepts, models and approaches, and their sources and applications.
• an ability to analyse and interpret urban form for design purposes.
• an ability to recognise major structures and patterns, and key building and spatial types in the urban environment.
• investigative and interpretive skills appropriate to the subject.
• presentation (graphic, written and oral) skills appropriate to the subject.

• Preliminary paper/annotated bibliography, 20%, (equivalent 1,000 words), due week 6
• Digital presentation (20%), (equivalent 1,000 words) presented weeks 10-12 which is a preparatory component of a
• Final illustrated report (60%) (equivalent 3,000 words), due end of semester.

Broadbent, Geoffrey. Emerging Concepts in Urban Space Design, 1990.

Carmona, Matthew et al. Public places - Urban Spaces: the dimensions of urban design, 2003.

Watson, Donald (ed). Time-Saver Standards for Urban Design, 2003.

Larice, Michael & Elisabeth Macdonald (eds). The Urban Design Reader, 2007.

Carmona, Matthew (ed). Urban Design Reader, 2007.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.