MPlan Planning with Professional Placement / Course details

This module provides an opportunity for you to learn multidisciplinary work on one type of sustainable development projects: urban design masterplanning. It provides an introduction on sustainable development and related challenges in the 21st century, urban design theories, principles and techniques.

This course unit is project-based, and is taught through a mixture of lectures, workshops, and technical sessions. You learn concept and key principles related to urban design analyses through lectures. In the workshop and technical sessions, you will learn how to use your knowledge (e.g., on urban design principles) in practice. This course unit also equip you with presentation skills (e.g., using graphic software – such as Adobe Illustrator; visual and verbal presentation to the class).

By taking this course unit, you will learn basic skills required for working with urban designers in future. Moreover, you will learn working in multidisciplinary groups, as well as working independently, on sustainable development projects. 

• Introduction to Sustainable development;

• Introduction to urban design (aim, key theories, principles, process)

• Context analyses (e.g., figure ground/historical analysis, road hierarchy, building use, green infrastructure, listed building, and legibility)

• Contextual appraisal
• Site specific analyses (e.g., natural environment, movement and mobility, building use and active frontages, quality of buildings, key views and serial vision)
• Opportunities and constraints
• Concepts and brief

• To comment on key issues facing sustainable placemaking in the 21st century and its relevance to the development of the built and the natural environments in the UK;
• To understand and be able to develop a multidisciplinary and integrated approach to place making for a new neighbourhood project or renewal.

• To learn how to analyse the current condition of a large area to identify opportunities and constraints for regeneration and development;
• To understand the principles of analysing the built and the natural environments;
• To be competent in basic presentation techniques for the different components of plans; 

• Design and drawing skills;
• Possible use of various software to process and present information in a professional manner;
• Competency and confidence in presenting ideas and concepts verbally.

• Multidisciplinary perspective of team work;
• Possible use of MS Office software (Excel), Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop and Illustrator), Sketch-up and other software to present ideas and concepts;
• Use urban design analysis techniques and skills to explore appropriate culturally sensitive design responses in urban environments;
• Have ability to test and analyse different design projects within different contexts and multiple scales to understand best practice approaches and quality assessment;
• Carry out a full urban design and planning assessment across multiple scales and themes in an international and heritage focused city;
• Continue development in working with professionals in practice and group design work/analysis/presentation.

Assignments type: Project

• Assignment I: Context Analyses [35%] / Group-work

Assignment II: Final Project [65%] / Individual work

Written feedback on the BlackBoard

• Barton, H., Grant M. and Guise, R. (2003) Shaping Neighbourhoods: a guide for health, sustainability and vitality, London : Spon Press
• Beer, A. R. and Higgins, C. (2000) Environmental Planning for Site Development, London : Spon
• Black, P. and Sonbli, T. (2019) The Urban Design Process, London: Lund Humphries.
• Carmona, M. and Tiesdel, S. (2007) Urban Design Reader, Amsterdam ; Boston, Mass.: Architectural Press
• English Partnerships (2000) Urban Design Compendium, London : English Partnerships, available at http://webapps.stoke.gov.uk/uploadedfiles/Urban%20Design%20Compendium%201.pdf
• Larice, M. and Macdonald, E. (2013) The Urban Design Reader, London : Routledge
• Lynch, K. (1960) The Image of the City, Cambridge Mass. ; London : M.I.T. Press
• Meeda, B., Parkyn, N., Walton, D. S. (2007) Graphics for Urban Design, London: Thomas Telford

Not suitable for students without some background knowledge in urban planning