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051-0366-00L 1 Credits DS D-GESS , D-ARCH

History of Urban Design IV

Geschichte des Städtebaus IV

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. em. Dr. Vittorio Magnago Lampugnani, PD Dr. Matthias Noell
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:19:39

Abstract

The lecture covers the time from the beginning of the 20th century until today. With selected examples of American and European cities it emphasizes on the historical plannings and methods. 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

The lecture of the summer term includes the developments of the beginning of the 20th century in America and Europe until today. 22.03. Setback Skyscraper City: The American Skyscraper as an urban module 29.03. The genius and the society: Frank Lloyd Wright’s utopia of Broadacre City in the shade of the New Deal 05.04. The „engineers of luck“ rebuild the Soviet Union: The Socialist Realism and the city 12.04. Process of coming to terms with the past and the cold war: Rebuilding in the two Germanies after Worldwar II 19.04. Post war myths: Classicism and regionalism in France 26.04. Myth of the truth: Agrarian colonisation in Spain of Franco and Urban Design of the Neorealism in Italy 03.05. Foundation capitals of the 20th century: Chandigarh, Brasilia and Dhaka 10.05. The international urban utopia: Team X, Metabolismus, Archigram 24.05. Architettura Radicale and „culture of congestion“: The city of the Postavantgarde 31.05. Analysis, conservation, analogy and renewal: The contemporary adventure of the typologic city 07.06. From Learning from Las Vegas to Blade Runner: Postmodern urban design

Resources

Lecture Notes

To each lecture an overview is listet within a script (two semesters of the diploma 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
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 IV
Die Architektur der Stadt von der Moderne bis heute.
  • Thu 08:00-09:35 (HIL E 9)
2 h weekly

Offered In