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Spatial Planning and Development
Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:30:36
Abstract
The course Spatial Planning and Development explores how urban space is understood, shaped, and governed across scales. It introduces conceptual planning frameworks and practical interventions, with a strong focus on sustainable development as a guiding principle for addressing present and future spatial challenges.
Objective
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to critically describe and interpret the drivers of spatial development in Swiss and international contexts, apply planning methods to analyse urban issues, and evaluate spatial design and governance interventions in relation to planning goals, people’s needs, and sustainable development objectives.
Content
Urban areas and regions face increasingly complex challenges related to sustainable growth, transformation, and spatial justice. This course introduces students to the dual fields of spatial development - understood as the evolving arrangement of urban space - and spatial planning, which provides the tools and frameworks to steer that development. Through an interdisciplinary lens, students explore how spatial planning operates across scales, mediates diverse interests, and responds to real-world urban issues. The course combines conceptual foundations with practice-oriented methodologies, guiding students to analyse socio-spatial conditions, interpret design and governance interventions, and reflect on planning strategies that support sustainable development. The course is structured into four thematic sections, each building toward the ability to critically engage with spatial planning tasks in both Swiss and international contexts: - Understanding: Introduction to the objectives, concepts, and tools of spatial planning. - Analysing: Application of planning methods through lectures, a methods workshop, and guided fieldwork. - Designing: Examination of spatial scenarios and strategies in response to complex urban conditions. Governing: Examination of governance structures, policy-making, and participatory processes in spatial development. The course combines lectures, discussions, interactive class activities, and field-based learning.
Resources
Lecture Notes
The course has a Moodle page for the provision of lectures and documents, to upload assignments, and to ask questions in a discussion Forum. All documents provided are exclusively available for use within this course.
Literature
Relevant literature is provided for each lecture as an additional resource to the lecture slides.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 120 minutes
- Aids
- None
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Spatial Planning and Development |
|
2 h weekly |