Credit Points: 30
Study Time: 300

Most of us in the western world live in urban environments. These don't only provide the functional needs of work, living and leisure, but also the immeasurable human need for conviviality or social interaction. Rather than buildings standing alone, they aggregate together to form streets and public spaces, along with the infrastructure of transport and services. This urban context is constantly undergoing changes and modifications; a re-cycling of the city. Buildings and public spaces become a palimpsest of changes layered one over another. In order to design we must both learn to read the city and intervene sensitively. In this unit you will create convivial spaces that link the interior and exterior space of an urban environment, while being aware of how the historical changes of the site might influence the design. You will learn some of the ways to read the city and measure the existing site for intervention.

Aims

A1 To introduce and represent the city and urban space as a contextual issue in architectural design.
A2 To make a creative and thoughtful architectural response in an urban context. 
A3 To further explore the architectural design process. 
A4 To manage, appraise and document your own working practices. 
A5 To work as part of a team.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit you will be able to demonstrate:

LO1 Knowledge of ways to represent and analyse urban space
LO2 Ability to research, analyse, reflect and make judgements through a design methodology
LO3 Knowledge of principles and detailing of building technology, and construction methods and how they inform design
LO4 Knowledge of principles of environmental design for human comfort and how they inform design
LO5 Knowledge of appropriate visualisation and communication skills

Method of delivery
Lectures, seminars, studio projects, field trips and visits.

Reference Material

Key
Albertini, Bianca and Bagnoli, Sandro (1989) Carlo Scarpa - Architecture in Detail Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press
Buzas, S and Bryant, R (1994) Sir John Soane's Museum Tübingen: Wasmuth
Cramer, J. and Breitling, S. (2007). Architecture in existing fabric: planning, design and building. Basel: Birkhäuser
Droege, Peter (2007) Renewable City Chichester: John Wiley
Gehl, Jan (1987) Life between buildings New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold
Lynch, Kevin (1960, 1984) The Image of the City Cambridge: The MIT Press
Murphy, Richard(1983) Querini Stampalia Foundation, Venice London: Phaidon
Rowe, Colin and Koetter, Fred (1984) Collage City Cambridge MA: the MIT Press
Sadler, S (1999) The Situationist City Cambridge MA: The MIT Press
Schittich, C. (ed.) (2003). In detail: building in existing fabric: refurbishment, extensions, new designs. Basel: Birkhäuser
Schultz, Anne-Catrin (2007) Carlo Scarpa: Layers Stuttgart: Edition Axel Menges
Wigley, Mark (1998) Constant’s New Babylon: the Hyper-Architecture of Desire Rotterdam: 010

Recommended
Borden, I and McCreery, S. (2001) New Babylon: Contemporary Visions of a Situationist City Chichester: John Wiley and Sons
Brandi, Ulrike (2006) Light for Cities Basel: Birkhauser
Dal Co, Francesco (Ed.) Mazzarioi, G (Ed.)(2002)
Carlo Scarpa: The Complete Works New York: Rizzolli
Gehl, Jan et al (2006) New City Life Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press
Gehl, Jan et al (2006) New City Spaces Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press
Mildred Friedman (1999) Carlo Scarpa: Intervening with History New York: Monacelli Press
Schittich, C. (ed.) (2002). In detail: interior spaces: space, light, material. Basel: Birkhäuser
Temel, R and Haydn, F (2006) Temporary Urban Space Basel: Birkhauser
Yoshida, Nobuyuki (ed) (1998) Peter Zumthor Tokyo: Architecture and Urbanism February 1998 Extra Edition

Journals
Architects Journal
Architectural Review
Building Design
Detail

Website
http://nolli.uoregon.edu/ (interactive Nolli Map)