AG2134 Contemporary Urban Theory, Advanced Course 7.5 credits

The course is organised in three sub-themes, to which there will be lectures, a set of articles/book chapters (announced later) and seminars with a group assignment. Students also have to complete one individual assignment, paper.

The course deals with urban theory in the sense of different ways of understanding cities – the forces shaping cities, the physical patterns in the urban landscape and the consequences on life and planning. There are different theories of contemporary urban development, e.g. cities being understood as generators of economic growth, as spaces of mobility, as places for cultural and public life, as spaces of environmental degradation and/or green living, as places for reproduction and everyday life, as spaces where ethnic, socio-economic and/or gender divisions manifest, as spaces driven by desire or fear, etc. These varying perspectives on urban development, and hence views on what the problems and possibilities are, give rise to different implications and tasks for planning and urban design.

After having completed the course, the student shall have:

• Analysed and reflected upon the interplay of economic, social, political and cultural forces shaping the city and its planning in different geographical contexts
• Compared and analysed different theories of contemporary urban development
• Applied a set of theories and concepts on a specific site and analysed their implications in terms of planning and urban design.

In total 180 ECTS-credits, including 90 ECTS-credits within the subject architecture, urban and regional planning or environmental science or 60 ECTS-credits from the Master’s programme in Sustainable Urban Planning and Design

English 6

To be determined later

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

• INL1 - Paper, 4.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• SEM2 - Seminars, 3.0 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.

Individual paper (INL1; 4,5hp)

Seminars (SEM2; 3,0hp)

Karin Bradley

• 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.