AD2810 Concepts and Tools in Urban Analysis 7.5 credits

The course is based on a series of lectures that outlines the history of urban form during the 20th century. The historic setting of different approaches are presented but the emphasis lies on a synchronous analysis and understanding of these approaches, that is, trying to understand their internal logic and priorities. This outline is brought up to the present day where contemporary concepts and tools are scrutinized. The lectures are further supported by literature, which is discussed in seminars. General introductions to urban sociology, urban geography and GIS will also be provided. The theoretical knowledge on these concepts and tools are put into practice in exercises where the students will analyze urban areas and their own interventions in them, using tools of their choosing. The course examination is done in a final seminar to which the students are expected to hand-in written reports with diagrams critically discussing their application of descriptive approaches in a practical case.

How architects and planners act upon the city relies on the knowledge they have of the city, which in turn relies on descriptions and representations of the city, conceptual as well as diagrammatic. This course is an introduction to fundamental concepts and tools in such a description, where the relation between the built environment (urban morphology) and urban life (urban sociology) is stressed.

180 credits (three years) from architecture, landscape architecture or planning programme on graduate level.

Anne Vernez Moudon: Urban Morphology as an Emerging Interdisciplinary Field in Urban Morphology. 1997:1, Heron Press, Birmingham,1997.

Bill Hillier: Space is the machine, Kapitel 4, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1996.

A classic in urban morphology of one’s own choice.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• TEN1 - Examination, 7.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Examination seminar (critique) 7,5 credits

Per Fransson

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.