Symposium of Urban Design History and Theory (original) (raw)
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Since its emergence and rise to significance over the fast 30 years urban design has been loosely defined. In this regard, its definition can be grouped into categories of being cursory, qualitative and prescriptive, historic, proprietary and process oriented. A practical definition, i.e. with regard to its status as a field, sees urban design as being form-giving to built environments as a primary activity involving the professions of architecture, landscape architecture and planning. In addition, 'thresholds of scale' factor into a practical definition whereby interrelationships of building site, neighbourhoods and districts, the city, metro region and 'corridors' are building blocks of design intervention. Quality of life, the public realm and process are significant aspects of the thresholds of scale.
DESIGNING URBAN DESIGN: TOWARDS A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE: METUDSYMP2016 Proceedings
2017
The book respectively addresses the following seven basic domains in which urban design operates in the way of a more definite and deliberate definition of the field: ideology, sociology, morphology, bio-ecology, methodology, pedagogy and praxis. Representing a specific research field by in itself, each domain actually involves a certain series of questions, which are still subject to be investigated by various studies and explorations.
Introduction: Urban Design Kaleidoscope 2017
2017
With this anniversary publication we celebrate 20 years of urban design at Aalborg University. The contributors to the publication are students, graduates, and faculty members, who have generously sharpened their pens and minds for this diverse collection of essays and accompanying illustrations. The resulting collaborative catalogue celebrates urban design teaching and research at AAU, and the urban design practice by graduates from this program. Authors have been invited to contribute with a brief essay, focused on a pertinent urban design issue of their own selection. Together they form a rich collection of subjects, concepts, objects, projects, and questions, which have been-and still are-on our minds in urban design throughout the past 20 years. The richness and variation demonstrated by the catalogue is in keeping with urban design's orientation towards diverse considerations when addressing contemporary urban challenges. The past years of AAU urban design endeavours have demonstrated that urban design is about acting within networks of multiple interests, concerns, stakeholders, and other actors. Urban design is perhaps well conceived of as a sensibility of the 'urban-minded', as Harvard GSD dean José Luis Sert suggested at the world's first Urban Design conference in 1956. This somewhat indefinite inception for urban design still persists, and clarity of definition seems to be defied. Rather, in the engaged attempts to operate with synthesis in the ever-changing complexity of the urban condition, urban design's elusive mandate and purpose remains in debate. If attempting to stir up this hornet's nest of urban design's contemporary raison d'etre and scope, multiple co-existing positions impose themselves. Just some of these include: Koolhaas' radical Fuck Context and push to leave architectural delusions of potency and splendor, next to Gehl's human-friendly 'let's meet between the buildings' agenda, next to Mostafavi's optimistic call for a cross-disciplinary sensibility to respond to the ecological crisis, next to Harvey's sturdy emphasis on power, justice, and the right to the city, next to Jacobs' and Appleyard's manifesto of e.g., livability, community, and public life as normative goals of urban design. This multiplicity suggests that to be an urban designer demands skillful and flexible navigation across complex issues of cities and countrysides. Urban designers must work with many elements with meticulousness and readiness. We must strive to continuously adapt to situations and to even be at the forefront of change. This also applies to urban design teaching and research at AAU, as well as to the practices of graduates. For these reasons, this publication offers its modest space for engaged professionals and students to address the diversity and variation of urban design through what they determine to be pertinent urban design matters. Thus, the contemporary versatility of urban design is reflected in this kaleidoscopic catalogue, addressing such diverse issues as urban design's social ambitions; affective encounters of urban space; the conceptualisation of spaces, landscapes, and buildings; relationships between local sites and global change; ecology; events and culture in the city; urban design's role in a complex field of interests and actors driving urban development and planning; dreams of the future; technologies; continuous urban change; experimental methods; and disputed concepts. We are proud to present these voices, and we invite you to dive into them. Thanks to all the contributors for sharing! Last but not least, thanks to the Spar Nord Foundation for its generous funding of this publication, as well as to the Study Board of Architecture & Design and to the Section of Architecture & Urban Design at the
Urban Design Kaleidoscope 2017: Celebrating 20 Years of Urban Design at Aalborg University
2017
With this anniversary publication we celebrate 20 years of urban design at Aalborg University. The contributors to the publication are students, graduates, and faculty members, who have generously sharpened their pens and minds for this diverse collection of essays and accompanying illustrations. The resulting collaborative catalogue celebrates urban design teaching and research at AAU, and the urban design practice by graduates from this program. Authors have been invited to contribute with a brief essay, focused on a pertinent urban design issue of their own selection. Together they form a rich collection of subjects, concepts, objects, projects, and questions, which have been-and still are-on our minds in urban design throughout the past 20 years. The richness and variation demonstrated by the catalogue is in keeping with urban design's orientation towards diverse considerations when addressing contemporary urban challenges. The past years of AAU urban design endeavours have demonstrated that urban design is about acting within networks of multiple interests, concerns, stakeholders, and other actors. Urban design is perhaps well conceived of as a sensibility of the 'urban-minded', as Harvard GSD dean José Luis Sert suggested at the world's first Urban Design conference in 1956. This somewhat indefinite inception for urban design still persists, and clarity of definition seems to be defied. Rather, in the engaged attempts to operate with synthesis in the ever-changing complexity of the urban condition, urban design's elusive mandate and purpose remains in debate. If attempting to stir up this hornet's nest of urban design's contemporary raison d'etre and scope, multiple co-existing positions impose themselves. Just some of these include: Koolhaas' radical Fuck Context and push to leave architectural delusions of potency and splendor, next to Gehl's human-friendly 'let's meet between the buildings' agenda, next to Mostafavi's optimistic call for a cross-disciplinary sensibility to respond to the ecological crisis, next to Harvey's sturdy emphasis on power, justice, and the right to the city, next to Jacobs' and Appleyard's manifesto of e.g., livability, community, and public life as normative goals of urban design. This multiplicity suggests that to be an urban designer demands skillful and flexible navigation across complex issues of cities and countrysides. Urban designers must work with many elements with meticulousness and readiness. We must strive to continuously adapt to situations and to even be at the forefront of change. This also applies to urban design teaching and research at AAU, as well as to the practices of graduates. For these reasons, this publication offers its modest space for engaged professionals and students to address the diversity and variation of urban design through what they determine to be pertinent urban design matters. Thus, the contemporary versatility of urban design is reflected in this kaleidoscopic catalogue, addressing such diverse issues as urban design's social ambitions; affective encounters of urban space; the conceptualisation of spaces, landscapes, and buildings; relationships between local sites and global change; ecology; events and culture in the city; urban design's role in a complex field of interests and actors driving urban development and planning; dreams of the future; technologies; continuous urban change; experimental methods; and disputed concepts. We are proud to present these voices, and we invite you to dive into them. Thanks to all the contributors for sharing! Last but not least, thanks to the Spar Nord Foundation for its generous funding of this publication, as well as to the Study Board of Architecture & Design and to the Section of Architecture & Urban Design at the
A Critical Review on The Current Thought and Practice of Urban Design: New Roles in the Future
2016
Though urban design is historically rooted in development of cities, urban design, as a contemporary discipline, is relatively new compared to associated disciplines of architecture, urban planning, and landscape architecture. Urban design’s close connection with these allied disciplines has also been the reason for its ambiguous nature, and its muddled definition. Accordingly, it is claimed here that a reexamination of the definition, status, and role of urban design is essential for the future directions of urban design as a discipline and cities as sustainable environments. In line with this, this article provides a critical framework regarding the current understanding of the discipline of urban design which is based on form, policy and efficiency, and highlights the need for place oriented approaches performed in an interdisciplinary working framework. The paper first focuses on the meaning and significance of urban design, and discusses the problems with the manner in which ur...
URBAN DESIGN: Seeking Solutions to Modern Problems [2009]
The greatest challenges of the 21st century will presumably require tremendous shifts in the way cities, neighborhoods and buildings are formed, designed and shaped. While the regulations and constrains predicated primarily by environmental concerns steadily rise the role of planners, urban designers, architects and engineers in shaping metropolitan cities and urban areas of the future will, more than likely, remain in the forefront of providing unparalleled vision and innovation.
Exploring the urban enviroment and technological change in the discourse of urban design
2016
A thesis submitted to the faculty of Architecture University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the degree Master of Urban Design. Johannesburg Nov. 1998 DECLARATION I declare that this dissertation is my own, unaided work. It is being submitted for the degree of Master of Urban Design in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. It has not been submitted before for any degree or examination in any other university. Zeky A. Adous 26 November i998. • To lain and Monica, for their inspiration and direction • To Yaseera, for her encouragement and standing by me a To my colleagues, Sintayehu, Wossen and Marcelle, tor being there for me • To Johan Olivier and Mldrand MLC, for helping me get information .. To my family, friends and all who helped me through the difficult three years ABSTRACT The intention of this exercise is to investigate a specific area in the growing field of urban design. while learning in the process. As urban design is one of the practices trrat are directly affected by the pressures resulting from the current fast changes in our environments, it will be useful and fascinating to explore this dimension in the dtscourse. The theme of the discourse is therefore to reflect on the different thoughts and deal with the continual change in the Urban Environment that i~.resulting from technological advancements. Technology is generally discussed as the human mastery in perfecting the tools by which humans attempt to control their environments. Therefore the Urban Environment is presented to be the reflection of human level of technological success. The thesis hence revises the understanding of the Urban Environment. It emphasizes the fact that the Urban Environment is a continually transfoiming entity, whereby urban designers are expected to continually come to terms with the emerging new lifestyles, due to changing technology and its irnpaots on the structures of urban environments. While sharing the view that respects the values of the past (that have continued to shape human urban environments), this study advocates the maintenance 01some sort of balance in design approaches, to also allow the accommodation of new technological environments. The study includes experimenting on reasonably bold but plausible design ideas. In doing so the exercice hopes to provide a stage for discussions and provoke innovative thinking by urban designers, that will be useful to the discourse of urban design. Contents Broad outline: i.o INTRODUCTION PART ONE: IriI::ORET1CAL INVESTIGATIC"j 2.0 HISTORICt~L PERSPECTIVES OF THE Uf-~8AN ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY 3.0 THE PRESENT REALITIES AND THE FUTUFtf OF URBAN LIFE 4.0 THE DIFFEnENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT 5.0 THE NOTION o-CHANGE IN THE URBAN E~VIRONMENT 6.0 SHPPING THE CHANGING URBAN ENVI80NM._)\jT 7.0 THE ROLE OF URBAN DESIGN
REQUIEM OF A NEW ERA IN URBAN DESIGN CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS
AbdelWahab Shalaby, 2024
Urban planning is revolutionizing. Sustainable, equitable, and innovative city design are now the norm. This paper explores this new period's basic principles, challenges, and opportunities. This trend promotes sustainable design. Urban areas are implementing green infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation to lessen their environmental impact. This strategy reduces pollutants and improves public health, making city life better for residents. Technology-data convergence drives urban redevelopment. Sensors and other digital technology are creating "smart cities," which are changing urban life. Cities may improve their systems and services by collecting and analyzing data on traffic patterns and air quality. This new century requires diversity and inclusiveness. To create cities for all ethnicities and socioeconomic classes. This mission includes providing affordable homes, accessible public spaces, and universal healthcare and education. Despite these gains, modern urban planning faces several challenges. Rapid urbanization has left cities unable to meet the needs of their growing populations. This might increase traffic and demand for water and power. Climate change poses another issue. Climate change threatens cities worldwide. Climate-resilient infrastructure and environmental planning are needed in cities.Resource scarcity affects areas without water or power. Reusing rainwater and using renewable energy are imaginative solutions.Urban planners struggle with societal inequality. Basic city services and public amenities should be available to all city residents, regardless of income. Therefore, public transit, low-cost housing, and social support services are crucial.Urban design is changing city planning, development, and management. There is a huge possibility for sustainable, equitable, and forward-thinking urban growth, notwithstanding challenges. Sustainable design, data, and social justice may improve city life.As climate change continues to threaten the world's cities, it is crucial that sustainable design, data, and social justice become a priority. By focusing on these three areas, we can ensure that our cities are equipped to withstand the coming challenges.However, in order to promote the well-being of all citizens and address issues of inequality, it is vital that the cities prioritize sustainability, data, and social justice.By embracing these principles, cities can ensure that all residents have access to the same resources and opportunities, allowing them to thrive and prosper.
Political Theory and Urban Design
The Urban Design Companion, ed. Tribid Banerjee (Routledge) , 2011
Today the practice of urban design has forged a distinctive identity with applications at many different scales – ranging from the block or street scale to the scale of metropolitan and regional landscapes. Urban design interfaces many aspects of contemporary public policy – multiculturalism, healthy cities, environmental justice, economic development, climate change, energy conservations, protection of natural environments, sustainable development, community liveability, and the like. The field now comprises a core body of knowledge that enfolds a right history of ideas, paradigms, principles, tools, research and applications, enriched by electric influences from the humanities, and social and natural sciences. Companion to Urban Design includes more than fifty original contributions from internationally recognized authorities in the field. These contributions address the following questions: What are the important ideas that have shaped the field and the current practice of urban design? What are the major methods and processes that have influenced the practice of urban design at various scales? What are the current innovations relevant to the pedagogy of urban design? What are the lingering debates, conflicts ad contradictions in the theory and practice of urban design? How could urban design respond to the contemporary challenges of climate change, sustainability, active living initiatives, globalization, and the like? What are the significant disciplinary influences on the theory, research and practice of urban design in recent times? There has never before been a more authoritative and comprehensive companion that includes core, foundational and pioneering ideas and concepts of urban design. This book serves as an invaluable guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students, future professionals, and practitioners interested in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning, but also in urban studies, urban affairs, geography, and related fields.
Urban design re-examined: urban vs. design
This paper examines the relative emphasis of urban and design in theories and practices of urban design. Traditionally, urban design has been conceived as a discourse in design and has been practiced as an extension of architecture, urban planning, and civil engineering. Post-modern critical thinking, in recent literature, questions the design dominance and calls for understanding complex relationships of politics, economics, sociology, behavior, and environment embedded in the urban context. In the prevalent paradigm, urban designers are primarily trained as architects, planners or engineers, each having one’s own design bias. Architects see design as formal orientation in space. Planners conceive design as implementation of policies reflecting social and economic values. Engineers understand design as efficiency in production. This eclectic approach of urban design creates a partitioned education model with conflicts and contradictions. This paper posits an inclusive model with the focus on urban instead of design. Such an approach defines the uniqueness of urban design. It allows opportunities of interrelationships and interactions among multiple disciplines and diverse issues. The inclusive approach is teleological (process oriented), relevant (specific), and catalytic (empowering). Rethinking the pedagogy of urban design is critical in understanding diverse roles urban design can play in the process of placemaking and in defining specific responsibilities urban designers can have in the society. Balance of urban and design in teaching should be explored. Proportion of the two may vary based on specific needs and individual programs. This is significant in developing urban design courses reflecting heterogeneity and complexity of the current urban environment. Further opportunities exist in applying this pedagogic model in areas of sustainable development, smart growth, and design research. Keywords: Urban Design, Pedagogy, Urban theory, Placemaking