Urban Design Proseminar

A seminar required for (and limited to) first year students in the MAUD and MLAUD programs. The course establishes the foundations of contemporary urban design practice and theories. Students study both the evolution of urban design as a discipline over the proceeding half-century, and explore emerging ideas and innovative practices. The class is structured around discussions that feature prominent themes/categories of urban design practice. These include: constructing a case for urban design as an autonomous discipline, urban design as the architecture of the city, urban design as restorative urbanism, urban design as visionary urbanism, urban design as \’smart growth\’ and growth management, urban design as public policy, landscape urbanism, and urban design as citizen/neighborhood advocacy. Case studies and presentations of exemplary contemporary practice will help illuminate the topics of discussion.