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History of Urban Design II
Geschichte des Städtebaus II
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:19:39
Abstract
The lecture covers the time from the beginning of urban culture until the mid 19th century. With selected examples it emphasizes on the historical plannings and methods of European cities. Each specific urban development will be presented within a broader context.
Objective
This course analyzes the history of urban architecture primarily in its existing three dimensional form as a complex human artefact. It also explores the inspirations that prompted the creation of this artefact: philosophical and religious concepts, social conditions, property relationships and the mechanisms that exploit the economics of real estate and the influence of building technology. Intellectual, literary or artistic modes of thought will also be assessed with regard to their impact on urban development. Urbanism has its own distinctive approach as a discipline, but it is also clearly responsive to the influence of related disciplines. Study is made of actual cities and urban expansion plans which are in the process of implementation, as well as unrealized projects and visions of the future. These projects sometimes illustrate ways of thinking that are equal to, or clearer than, actual urban situations.
Content
In the second semester the immense urban changing of the 19th century are presented along with their impacts on the developments until the interwar period. 22.03. Company Towns in Great Britain during the Industrial Revolution: The social utopia city concepts of Robert Owens and Charles Fourier 29.03. Garden Cities for tomorrow: Ebenezer Howard and the green alternative for the metropolis. 05.04. civilized wilderness: from Frederick Law Olmsteds park movement to the frenzy of freeways in Robert Moses' New York 12.04. City Beautiful: The American city between democratic emotiveness and commercial speculation 1898-1909 19.04. Antagonists in the shadow of the ‚Ringstrasse': The artistic urban development of Camillo Sitte, the ‚infinite city' of Otto Wagner and the ‚retrogressive utopia' of Adolf Loos 26.04. ‚Impressionistic' city architecture: Hendrik Petrus Berlage and the School of Amsterdam 03.05. urban development of the Beaux-Arts, moderne classical period and a socialistic skyscraper: The Cité Industrielle of Tony Garnier and the Gratte-Ciel in Villeurbanne 10.05. Ideas of the city in the radical avantgarde movement: futurism in Italy and constructivism in the Soviet Union after the October Revolution 24.05. ‚walkinglines' of pedestrians and ‚movinglines' of the traffic: The modernization of the City of Berlin 31.05. The ‚Lebensreform' movement, the ‚crown of the city' and the housing schemes of the ‚Neue Sachlichkeit' 07.06. Satellite town versus ‚Superblock': New Frankfurt and Red Vienna
Resources
Lecture Notes
To each lecture an overview is listet within a script (two semesters of the bachelor studies), that can be purchased at the chair for the history of urban design (HIL D 75.2) at the price of sFr 30,-. The script serves as an auxiliary means to the attended lecture compiling the most important illustrations showed and the names and dates of the buildings and its builders along with a short introductory note.Aside this script the chair offers the ‚Quellentextbände' (sourcetexts) which help to extend the knowledge of theoretical discourses in the field of urban design. For the bachelor program the institute offers two volumes of texts at the price of sFr 15,- each. The scripts are in German, the ‚Quellentextbände' are in original languages.
Literature
Further recommended literature to consult is listet within the script.
General Information
- Language
- German
- Levels
- BSC , DS
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 120 minutes
- Aids
- keine
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture |
Geschichte des Städtebaus II
Die Architektur der Stadt von der industriellen Revolution bis zur Moderne.
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|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (In order to be awarded credits, please register under "Pflichtwahlfach GESS"!. The language courses are offered by the ETH and University of Zurich Language Center.)
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Compulsory Electives GESS (Categorically all students at ETH Zurich are required to obtain 8 credit points (ECTS) within the frame of this elective course program throughout their studies; 6 credit points during the bachelor and 2 for the master. Some of the lectures are part of other departments’ curricula. Further information can be found in the course catalog or at the particular student offices.)
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Examination Block 3, 4. Semester (Students are free to take the exam either in German or in French. They may choose between LV 851-0710-00L (Übungen zum Recht) or LV 851-0712-00L (Droit public).)
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