Cities by Design II: Projects, Processes, and Outcomes

Cities evolve through a complex layering and re-layering of projects, processes, and outcomes. Cities by Design II introduces students to a range of contexts that demonstrate how urban design is conceived, realized, and its impact in cities over time. Through a case study approach including lectures, readings, and class discussions, this course examines cities at the scale of the urban project. GSD faculty and outside experts will present approximately 18 projects, each operating within particular urban conditions and emphasizing the politics, institutional structures, and stakeholder interests involved from design to implementation. Two main pedagogical objectives guide the course: (1) to engage students in a comparative study of contemporary urban design projects as a way to broaden their understanding of how urban design happens, and (2) to expose students to urban projects that range in context, scale, and operational capacity in order to equip them with an understanding of the social, economic, political, and environmental implications of urban design.

Case studies will be framed and organized by scale into four overarching discussion sections:
Small: Tactical Interventions
Medium: Big Architecture / Urban Infrastructures
Large: Metropolitan Districts
Extra Large: Regional Intermediations

Term grades will be based on attendance and participation in lectures and section discussions, biweekly response papers, student group presentations, and a final paper.

The year-long ‘Cities by Design’ course is mandatory for all incoming Masters of Urban Design Students. All other students are welcome to enroll in the course by semester, and need not do so in sequence.

No Prerequisites.

Faculty lecturers: Peter Rowe, Joan Busquets, Alex Krieger, Michael Murphy, Stephen Gray.