LUP-23806 Planning for Urban Quality of Life

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Contents:

Students will become familiar with concepts and methods of urban planning and design, and how these can be linked to concepts of sustainable urban management. The focus will be on neighbourhood, city and regional level of urban and peri-urban areas, and the metropolitan landscape. The relationships between the urban fabric and the diversity of human activities will be explored, based on concepts of spatial organization. Energy, water and material cycles related to these human activities will be identified and analyzed. Students will become aware that these cycles have different spatial and temporal scale levels. Also, the students will be confronted with a range of uncertainties that are evident for the complexity of urban planning and development and the diversity of stakeholders involved. Furthermore, the course will elaborate on methods and techniques for environmental assessment that can be used in the context of urban and environmental planning. Typically, these methods and techniques are more qualitative. The course combines learning through lectures and studying literature with carrying out assignments taken from practice and with field trips to some example locations.

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the course the students will be able to:
- recognize some basic concepts of urban planning and design;
- understand the interaction between these concepts and urban sustainability;
- understand the relationship between the urban fabric and human activities, and how to analyze the spatial organisation for these activities and its interaction with the urban environment and sustainability;
- identify and include relevant qualitative as well as quantitative data in urban planning processes in a way that demonstrates an appreciation of the need to communicate issues such as uncertainty and quality;
- apply methods and tools for environmental assessment in the context of urban and environmental planning;
- demonstrate the ability to make sound judgments about the quality of scientific arguments and supporting evidence.

Activities:

- lectures and guest lectures;
- reading and discussing articles;
- assignments and writing reflective reports;
- field visits.

Examination:

Written examination (75% and average grade above 5.5);
Grading of assignments and reports (25% and average grade above 5.5).

Literature:

Course reader and selected articles/papers (to be announced).