| CODE | SPI3714 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Understanding Urban Design as a Product and a Process | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Spatial Planning and Infrastructure | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit first introduces students to the understanding of urban design quality, in terms of design considerations, and the simultaneous understanding of planning process (as distinct from planning procedures). It subsequently proceeds through an investigation of design quality achievement through (a) plans and policies, and (b) design control (as part of, or distinct from, wider development control/management objectives). Bottom-up, and more participatory, approaches to design and planning will also be discussed as opposed to top-down and imposed ones, and this therefore touches upon governance discussions, central to which is an understanding of the stakeholders involved in both design and planning and the different roles that are taken. Discussions will be supplemented by specific local and foreign case studies, looking at both successful, good quality urban design projects and unsuccessful, poor quality ones, in tandem with the underlying processes that have resulted in specific outcomes. The above knowledge will enable students to critically and objectively assess both the urban design qualities of specific projects (products) and the various forces and characteristics of, particularly, the planning process that produce these products. Study-Unit Aims: The aim of the study-unit is to develop the discussion of urban design further in light of the inevitable two-way relationship of product (understood as architectural/urban design intervention on the ground) and process (understood particularly in terms of the planning process). Prospective spatial planners and urban designers must equally embrace the duality of product and process in the pursuit of quality place-making in the built environment. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe pragmatically the relationship between process and product in urban design, through clear theoretical concepts and practical case studies; - Compare different urban design projects on the ground in terms of design quality achievement; - Differentiate between specific components of the planning process in relation to the contribution to the urban design product. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Assess design projects on the basis of urban design quality characteristics; - Assess design outcome on the basis of the underlying planning process; - Develop a critical outlook towards the planning process and be able to define which specific process-related aspects contribute to quality; - Connect the above knowledge to spatial planning and apply it in both development control (design control) and forward planning (policy-making). Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - CARMONA, M., HEATH, T., OC, T. and TIESDELL, S. 2003. Public Places Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design. Oxford: Architectural Press. - CARMONA, M. and TIESDELL, S. 2007. Implementing urban design. In: Carmona, M. and Tiesdell, S. (Eds.). - Urban Design Reader. Oxford: Architectural Press, 2007, pp. 307 鈥� 312. PUNTER, J. 2007. Developing Urban Design as Public Policy: Best Practice Principles for Design Review and Development Management. Journal of Urban Design. 12(2), pp. 167-202. - PUNTER, J. 2010. Centenary paper: Planning and good design: indivisible or invisible? A century of design regulation in English town and country planning. Town Planning Review. 81(4), pp. 343-380. - PUNTER, J. 2010. Reflecting on urban design achievements in a decade of urban renaissance. In: Punter, J. (Ed.). Urban Design and the British Urban Renaissance. Abingdon: Routledge, 2010, pp. 325-352. - PUNTER, J. and CARMONA, M. 1997. The Design Dimension of Planning: Theory, Content and Best Practice for Design Policies. London: E & FN Spon. - PUNTER, J., CARMONA, M. and PLATTS, A. 1994. The design content of development plans. Planning Practice and Research. 9, pp. 199-220. Supplementary Readings: (Some of these will be assigned to students for their critical review) - BEER, A. 1983. Development Control and Design Quality, Part 2: Attitudes to Design. Town Planning Review. 54(4), pp. 383-404. - BENTLEY, I. 1999. Heroes and servants, markets and battlefields. In: Carmona, M. and Tiesdell, S. (Eds.). Urban Design Reader. Oxford: Architectural Press, 2007, pp. 323-331. - BOOTH, P. 1983. Development Control and Design Quality, Part 1: Conditions: A Useful Way of Controlling Design? The Town Planning Review. 54(3), pp. 265-284. - CARMONA, M. 1996. Controlling urban design鈥攑art 1: A possible renaissance? Journal of Urban Design. 1(1), pp. 47-73. - CARMONA, M. 1996. Controlling urban design鈥攑art 2: Realizing the potential. Journal of Urban Design. 1(2), pp. 179-200. - CARMONA, M. 1998. Design control 鈥� bridging the professional divide, part 1: A new framework. Journal of Urban Design. 3(2), pp. 175-200. - CARMONA, M. 1998. Design control鈥攂ridging the professional divide, part 2: A new consensus. Journal of Urban Design. 3(3), pp. 331-358. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Alexandra Abela |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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