Elements of Urban Design

The studio is structured as an introduction to urban design representation and how it is used as a means of design thinking. The premise is that urban design is best understood and expressed through study and representation of the built urban environment. Hence, the studio will focus on the study, representation and design of the key urban elements in cities and will be structured in multiple modules running through the semester, each culminating with an exhibition of the outcome. These modules will significantly focus on effectively capturing and communicating the spatial qualities of the urban built environment and the design of public places. Each module is structured in two parts. The first part focuses on perceiving and representing the key elements of urban design that come together to make any functional urban space. The second part focuses on the design of public places. This studio will enable students to study the scale, form, character of key urban design elements and their relationship with the larger urban context, to inform the design of public places. Module 1: Building Types and Streets Module 2: Open Spaces and Urban Blocks