Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

In the third year of study, you will begin to learn how to apply policy and design to accomplish community-defined aims. This unit introduces the role of urban design in that effort. You will investigate and apply principles of urban design through problem-based assignments. The unit focuses on issues that are currently defining the role of urban design in the evolution of Australian cities. This semester the unit examines public spaces within Brisbane's CBD.

Aims

This unit investigates and applies urban design principles through a series of workshops and problem-based projects.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to do the following:
1. Critically evaluate issues, objectives, processes and principles associated with the design of urban spaces;
2. Develop place-sensitive and context-appropriate design recommendations for urban spaces; and
3. Effectively communicate design recommendations and their rationales to appropriate audiences.

Content

This studio presents processes typical of 'real world' urban design, but organizes them thematically, complementing practical application with instruction and constructive feedback from the teaching team and invited guests. You will utilise those processes to complete a series of short skill-building activities and a larger urban design project.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit includes a lecture component in addition to weekly three-hour workshop sessions in flexible technology (or studio) classrooms and computer labs.

The lecture component introduces topics and assessment requirements and provide a forum for critical discussion of issues, objectives, processes, principles and case studies of urban design (outcomes #1-3).

Design practice workshops give students opportunities to apply design skills and processes in order to analyse and resolve specific, real-world problems (outcomes #1-3). They also provide a forum for formative, student-led feedback on work in progress, and for specific guidance from instructors on the place appraisal (assessment #1) and design (assessment # 3).

Computer applications workshops provide hands-on instruction using electronic tools for development and presentation of design projects (assessment #3). This semester, the workshops will focus on multimedia, 2D and 3D presentation.

Assessment

This unit involves a combination of collaborative and independent work. Assessment is based on an individual site appraisal, a series of skill-building tasks, and a collaborative final design presentation. Several projects may be recommended for formal presentation to local practitioners and/or community members.

Assessment for this unit adheres to the guidelines stated in section 5.1.1 of QUT's Manual of Policies and Procedures (MOPP).Feedback is offered by teaching staff to assist with assessment items. The three assessments are marked using Criterion Referenced Assessment (CRAs) and returned with summative feedback so that you may understand how you are progressing and how your work can be improved.

More importantly, you will exchange verbal and written feedback with colleagues and guest professionals regarding in-class exercises and work in progress. This formative feedback occurs in the form of face-to-face dialogues during class time and is a critical component of the studio experience. As such, regular attendance is required for you to achieve learning outcomes.

Assessment name: Case Study
Description: Site Appraisal and Analysis
You will acquire and analyse primary data relating to a selected urban design problem. Presentations should capture and convey the spirit of place (associated with a specific site) as well as critically evaluate relevant systems and precedents that may influence design decisions. Presentations should primarily use multimedia communication with limited text.
Relates to objectives: Through this assessment, you will apply and critically evaluate site appraisal techniques and skills; offer and appropriately respond to constructive feedback, and effectively communicate planning recommendations and their rationales to appropriate audiences (outcomes #1-3).
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: Skills Exercises
You will have the opportunity to work individually to complete a series of short skill-building exercises and keep a portfolio of that work. You will receive guidance and formative feedback from instructors during workshops, and will receive written summative feedback following submission of the portfolio.
Due date: Week 13 (completed portfolio submission)
Relates to objectives: Through this assessment, you will critically evaluate issues, objectives, processes and principles associated with the design of urban spaces; develop place-sensitive and context-appropriate design recommendations for urban spaces; and effectively communicate design recommendations and their rationales to appropriate audiences. (outcomes #1-3).
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Assessment name: Design
Description: Design Recommendations
Building on assessment #1, you will develop design recommendations to address an urban design problem and present their recommendations to selected industry and/or community guests.
Relates to objectives: Through this assessment, you will develop site-sensitive and context-appropriate design recommendations for urban spaces; and effectively communicate those recommendations and their rationales to appropriate audiences (outcomes #2 and #3).
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 13

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

You will be required to create base plans for your project site, print them to appropriate sizes for design development and bring them to class. You are also required to bring adequate pens, pencils, scale rulers, yellow trace and tracing paper for a design studio.

Required Texts:
Kasprisin, R. (2011) Urban Design: The composition of complexity. London: Routledge.

Gehl, J (2010) Cities for People. London: Island Press

Tal, D. (2009) Google SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modelling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture. Hoboken NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Recommended Texts:
Carmona, M et al. (2003) Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design. Sydney: Architectural Press.

Larice, M et al. (2006) The Urban Design Reader. London: Routledge

Additional Readings:
Additional reading materials and suggestions will be made available electronically during the semester.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You will conduct field research as part of your assessment and will be instructed in appropriate and safe practices. Any research activities associated with this unit have been approved by QUT's human subjects research committee.

Additional Costs
This unit may require repeated travel within the greater Brisbane area, which would incur travel costs.

Assessment items may require large size colour printing as well as standard drafting tools such as pens, pencils, tracing paper and so forth.

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: 08-Nov-2012