REDEV 6415 - Urban Design Fundamentals

In this course, students will gain an introductory understanding of key theoretical foundations of urban design, developing their capacity to evaluate and critique projects, policies, and places. The course has three major pedagogical objectives. First, through readings, lectures, and discussions, students will explore the current discourse, building their understanding of urban design and examining issues the urban designer faces from client needs to site analysis to program development. Second, students will build spatial, visual, and graphic literacy necessary for all planners, developers, and designers: how to read a drawing, how to draw a street section, how to evaluate a proposal against design standards, basic building construction, and how to write a design guideline. Finally, students will develop a design consciousness and ability to recognize both city-level structure and project-level details. Students will uncover these details through hands-on learning, site visits, and observation.