AR3901 Urban Design Syllabus:
AR3901 Urban Design Syllabus – Anna University Regulation 2021
OBJECTIVES
To create an understanding of urbanism and urban morphology as rising from various forces through history.
To introduce the components of the modern city and their interdependencies.
To introduce the scope and nature of urban design as a discipline
To introduce key theories associated with urbanism and cities.
To create awareness of contemporary urban issues and how they are addressed.
To give exposure to ways of perceiving, documenting and analysing cities.
UNIT I URBANISM IN HISTORY
Outline of forces shaping urbanism. Urbanism of river valley civilisations. Morphology of preindustrial European cities to include Greek and Roman cities, medieval European towns, Renaissance urbanism and ideal cities. Outline of historic cities of India. Temple town urbanism of Tamil Nadu. Mughal city form. Medieval cities of India. Colonial urbanism in India.
UNIT II MODERN URBANISM
Industrialisation and impact on urbanism. American grid iron planning. Theories, ideas and practice of good urban planning/cities/urbanism in early 20th century. Outline of modernist cities and urbanism across the world. Morphology of Indian modernist cities of Chandigarh, Bhuvaneshwar and Gandhi Nagar. Components of modern urbanism such as blocks, density, neighbourhood, streets etc., and their interdependencies. Evolution of urban design as a discipline, its scope and objectives.
UNIT III CITIES AND URBANISM THROUGH TEXTS AND THEORIES
Introduction to and discussion of key texts and theories of cities and urbanism – Imageability and Lynch, Townscape and Cullen, Genius Loci and Schulz, historic city and Rossi, social aspects of urbanism and the works of Jane Jacobs, William Whyte and Jan Gehl, Collage City and Colin Rowe, current theories and texts.
UNIT IV CONTEMPORARY URBANISM AND URBAN INTERVENTIONS
Understanding aspects, issues and solutions related to urbanism today through study of literature and best practices/case studies in urban design. Topics to include urban decay, change and renewal, place making, heritage, conservation, identity, suburban sprawl, gated communities, generic form, privatisation of public realm, role of real estate, transportation, zoning, globalisation, technology, digital age, sustainability, community participation, gender, class, power.
UNIT V URBAN STUDIES
Introduction to study and interpretation of cities (especially Indian) through understanding published studies/ analysis. The focus will be on components/aspects as well as tools/ methods. Tools and methods to include different types of maps/mapping, drawings, sketches, photo documentations, reading, data collection, analysis. Aspects to include topography, geology, hydrology, micro climate, vegetation, urban density, growth, city limits/boundaries, history, urban architecture, typologies, infrastructure, land parcels, public space, demographics, patterns of usage, land use.
OUTCOME
Awareness of the evolution and characteristics of urban forms, their components and interdependencies.
Understanding of urbanism through theories, aspects, issues and solutions.
Knowledge of ways to look at and interpret urbanism today.
TEXTBOOKS
1. A.E.J. Morris, ‘History of Urban Form before the Industrial Revolution’, Routledge, 2013.
2. Edmund Bacon, ‘Design of Cities’, Penguin, 1976.
3. Gordon Cullen, ‘The Concise Townscape’, The Architectural Press, 1978.
4. Michelle Provoost et al., ‘Dutchtown’, NAI Publishers, Rotterdam, 1999.
5. ‘Time Saver Standards for Urban Design’, Donald Natson, McGraw Hill, 2017.
6. Kevin Lynch, ‘The Image of the City’, MIT Press, 1960.
7. Rithchie. A, ‘Sustainable Urban Design: An Environmental Approach’, Taylor and Francis, 2009.
8. Tridib Banerjee, Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Editors, ‘Companion to Urban Design’, Routledge, 2014.
REFERENCES
1. Jonathan Barnett, ‘An Introduction to Urban Design’, Harper Row, 1982.
2. Lawrence Halprin, ‘Cities’, MIT Press, 1972.
3. Gosling and Maitland, ‘Concepts of Urban Design’, St. Martin’s Press, 1984.
4. Malcolm Moor, ‘Urban Design Futures’, Routledge, 2006.
5. Geoffrey Broadbent, ‘Emerging Concepts in Urban Space Design’, Taylor and Francis, 2003.
6. AnuradhaMathu, ‘Deccan Traverses’, Rupa, 2006.