AD2855 Contemporary Trends in Urban Planning and Design II 7.5 credits

The main content of the course will relate the global contemporary trends to a chosen urban environment. Through the process of the course we will explore the dynamics of the market driven  urban development and its possible alternatives in relation to sustainable principles of urban growth.

The studio course will consist of one main project task divided in phases. The student work will focus on establishing the main principles for developing the design process with emphasis on the relation between  the program, urban structure and clear project objectives. The project will be divided into various moments with specific tasks. The studio work is to be reinforced with a series of lectures, and case studies.  This process will unable the students to introduce a specific issue or a problem into a discussion and test the theoretical concepts and practical tools in the studio work. Through the sequence of exercises the students will be introduced to the various methodologies for testing and developing more sustainable urban environments. By defining the particular key relations in the design process students will focus on resolving a range of contemporary urban problems. The students will develop their working tools by experimenting with new morphologies relative to the concept of density and quality of life in the city. The students will test and manipulate the ways in which the dynamics of economy, real estate development, social forces and the environment inform the process of shaping, controling and regulating urban development through their project proposals.  

The course will focus on development of planning and design tools on the large scale urban design project. The scenarios for new urban developments will integrate concepts of ecologic, economic and social sustainability. The focus will be on the experimentation through the design process. The  contradictions between various aspects of planning the new urban development will be tested, compared and various tensions and relations explored.

 The main goal of the course is to explore the possibility for finding potential synergies stemming from the dynamics among various interests involved in the design process, natural resources, social and political dynamics, infrastural solutions, etc. 

In this course the students will learn to tie together the theorethical and practical tools through integrated approach and engagement with complex urban problems.

For students within the TUPDM program:

• AG2124, Contemporary Trends in Urban Planning and Design I or equivalent

For external students:

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, landscape architecture or urban planning. The previous study should include at least 30 ECTS in the field of urban design
• Documented proficiency in English B or equivalent.
• AG2124, Contemporary Trends in Urban Planning and Design I or equivalent

Cities Full of Space. Qualities of Density. Rudy Uytenhaak. Edited by Ed Melet, Jeroen Mensink. 010 Publishers 2008, Rotterdam

Eco-Urbanism: Sustainable Human Settlements, 60 Case Studies, (Arquitectura Y Diseno + Ecologia), Miguel Ruano, Publisher Gustavo Gili, 1998, Imperial Beach, CA

Sociopolis: Project for a City of the Future, Vincente Guallart ACTAR, 2006, Valencia

The Grand Urban Rules, Alex Lehnerer, 010 Publishers, 2009, Rotterdam

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

• PRO1 - Project, 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.

PRO1; 7,5 cr, grade A–F. To obtain final grade, PRO1 have to be passed, plus 80% attendance at all teaching sessions.

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.