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The City in Theory: Urban Matters and Design
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:42:24
Abstract
Cities are at the heart of fierce debates in society today. In this course, students will trace how architects and urban designers, through their capacity to read the city and their ability to imagine alternative future scenarios, respond to or complement the views of theorists and activists.
Objective
In the framework of this seminar, students will examine the role of designers in shaping visions for the city. The aim is to investigate a selection of topics that have played key roles in the history of cities. In the 2019 Spring Semester, these topics are Capital (referring to the economic situation of cities), Public Space (which pertains to the ability of citizens to develop a public life) and Fear (which addresses the actual and perceived risks of living in dense urban, as well as less dense, suburban areas). The seminar puts up for discussion a series of architectural and urban-design interventions that explicitly address these topics. These will be investigated, alongside their theoretical implications, during the weekly sessions . During seminars, we will discuss the core messages of the readings, as well as uncovering when, why and how the author addressed this specific topic. The specific reflections will be illustrated by mirroring the theoretical perspectives and actual urban plans or interventions. During the discussion, these texts also will be related to the particular architectural and urban design approaches that have been discussed previously. Course objectives - Introduce students to several historical and contemporary contributions to actual debates on cities and urban design - Discuss the motivations, purposes and ideologies behind the particular contributions to the debates on cities - Emphasize the specificity of the designerly view upon the deficiencies and potentialites of the urban territory - Highlight the relationship between theoretical as well as designerly approaches to the contemporary city - Equip students to reflect upon cities with the help of both theoretical as well as designerly perspectives
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 30
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar |
The City in Theory: Urban Matters and Design
No course on 20.3. (seminar week) 10. and 17.4. (Easter Holiday) as well as all public holidays and in the last two weeks before the final critiques (s. room reservations!).
|
|
2 h weekly |