Units
Urban Design Studio B
Unit code: DEN520
Contact hours: 4 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit comprises an urban design studio focussed on exploring issues relating to our greater region, i.e. South East Asia and the Pacific Rim.
The studio, allows for the synthesis of knowledge and skills from other units in the course. It offers a problem-based learning experience that engages with advanced urban design issues. The unit focuses on the design management of the transformation and incremental development of existing urban/suburban/town/fringe areas. This area of urban design activity has to mediate between existing development patterns, ownership patterns, development trends, diverse community aspirations, and professional and institutional practices.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
This unit examines rapid urbanisation in our greater region to better understand how global trends will affect our immediate region of South East Queensland.
You will be exploring urban design strategies for large-scale sites and post-event city redevelopments. The studio will enable a bridge between 4 units: BEN710 Sustainable Practice in Built Environment and Engineering, BEN910 Integrated Project, DEN520 Urban Design and Theory Studio B, and DEN521 Theory Research Project B, and encourage knowledge developed in one or more of these units to be shared and expanded in the design studio.
The studio will prepare you for competitive urban best practice in a global market.
Aims
The aims of this unit are to:
- Expand the spectrum of urban design theory and practice to examine the impact and conditions of 'Extreme Urbanism' through a series of lectures, critical texts, seminars, tutorials structured around 'event-cities' such as Shanghai and the World Expo;
- Encourage students to successfully communicate their critical ideas through design using a range of presentation techniques, media and forums.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Formulate sustainable urban design strategies for large-scale urban sites that promote high-density, sustainable housing models that are applicable to SEQ and cities sharing similar climatic conditions and urbanisation patterns;
2. Critically discuss urban design theories and best practice models using appropriate case studies and local examples to support your position/views.
3. Demonstrate strong communication skills [verbal and graphic] in presenting these urban design ideas in a public forum to a range of critics [industry and academic];
4. Use a range of media to articulate your urban design ideas, such as: large-scale drawings, multimedia power point presentations and industry-standard reports.
Content
The focus of the semester will be on 'Extreme Urbanism'. We will focus on Shanghai as a World City hosting a world event: Expo 2010 as a mechanism to explore the complex drivers that influence the way that cities are shaped and evolve over time. Although our long-term focus will be on South East Asia, we will use the post-event opportunity to focus on how cities use such a concentration in investment and infrastructure to create new opportunities for development.
The content of this unit will include: Issues relating to the new directions in urban design and planning informed by extreme conditions:
- height, density, consolidation, urban water, community,mixed-use developments, open space systems;
- large scale sites;
- transportation networks;
- Urban design strategies relating to public space and communities;
- Urban design theories (historic and contemporary); and
- Urban best practice case studies
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Teaching Mode: Hours per week: 5 hours
Lecture: 1.5 hours
Studio: 3.5 hours
Learning Approaches:
The approach taken in this unit will involve:
Assessment
QUT's Assessment Policy is at MOPP C/9.1
There will be 2 assessable assignments:
1. Project: case study analysis worth 40%; and
2. Portfolio & Viva Voce worth 60%
A viva voce is a verbal explanation/account of your proposition and individual response to the urban design problem set.
The portfolio and viva voce will examined by a review panel comprising: one external reviewer, two tutors and the unit coordinator.You will receive regular feedback from tutors and peers.
Written feedback will only be given on the assessment items after the due dates.
Assessment name:
Project (applied)
Description:
Case study analysis
Relates to objectives:
3. Demonstrate strong communication skills [verbal and graphic] in presenting these urban design ideas in a public forum to a range of critics [industry and academic];
4. Use a range of media to articulate your urban design ideas, such as: large-scale drawings, multimedia power point presentations and industry-standard reports.
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Early / Mid Semester
Assessment name:
Portfolio
Description:
Portfolio & Viva Voce: Urban Design Strategic Project
Relates to objectives:
1. Formulate sustainable urban design strategies for large-scale urban sites that promote high-density, sustainable housing models that are applicable to SEQ and cities sharing similar climatic conditions and urbanisation patterns;
2. Critically discuss urban design theories and best practice models using appropriate case studies and local examples to support your position/views.
3. Demonstrate strong communication skills [verbal and graphic] in presenting these urban design ideas in a public forum to a range of critics [industry and academic];
4. Use a range of media to articulate your urban design ideas, such as: large-scale drawings, multimedia power point presentations and industry-standard reports.
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
No Set text
Further readings and resource materials will be provided on the unit Blackboard site
Other Resources: Blackboard unit site
Risk assessment statement
In this unit you will undertake lectures, tutorials, seminars and charettes in traditional classrooms, studios and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit. There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with the rest of this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 31-May-2012
