DraftSyllabus
Strategies for Urban Livability
Summer 2017: Session 1
3 Credits
Disciplines: Sociology, Urban Design, Urban Studies
Faculty:Regitze Marianne Hess ()
Program Director: Neringa Bigailaite ()
Program Assistant:Alex Berlin()
Meeting Location:TBA
Time: Please see course schedule on p. 3
***All students are expected to be able to ride a bike***
Course Description
How do we make cities livable in the face of populationgrowth, traffic congestion, competing claims on urban space, a growing creative class and general gentrification? How do we imagine and talk about the city? How do we evaluate and plan the city? And not least how to we see, experience and study the city? The goal of this research-based course is that all students gain an urban vocabulary thus being able to critically examine and discuss the conceptualization vs. the reality of the urban.
The academic framework of the course is an exploration of the 21st century demands for a multi-disciplinary and cross-sectorial approach to urban development, utilizing the insight and expertise of the board spectrum of academic fields and professions, which collectively and in collaboration shape the modern city. All theoretical, as well as political readings, will be tested and evaluated 1:1,out in the field, i.e. out in the city. Copenhagen will function as an urban laboratory for critical study and thus contribute to informed academic discussion.
The course consists ofcore lectures, field studies and on-site analyses accompanied by text readings class discussions, and special guest lectures. And will cover themes such as: Human Habitat & Spatial Organization. Proximity & Density. Urban Fabric and Urban Infrastructure. Law & Policy. Public Health & Social Inequity. Micro Business & Economic Sustainability. Urban Design & Urban Culture. Democratic Space & Social Capital. Spatial Negotiation and Urban Prototyping. Throughout the course we will continually examine how/if livability relates to urban sustainability, and whether or not they are integrally related.
By the end of the course students will be able to read, understand and discuss a wide range of different academic, political and professional writings on the city. In addition, they will be able to translate this knowledge to spatial studies and evaluations to verify or falsify the claims of the writings. The learning objective of the course is to provide students with the tools necessary for critical analysis of theory, policy and spatial reality, this way providing each student with his or her own ‘livability encyclopedia’.
Faculty
Regitze Marianne Hess: Architect MAA, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, Copenhagen (1993). B.Eng. – Civil, McGill University, Montreal (1985). CurrentlySpecial AdvisorwithInternational Federation for Housing and Planning [IFHP], working with IFHP in various capacities since 2005. A long range of experience advocating for better cities and built environments through the world of philanthropy, non-profits, academia & private practice; asconference organizer; curator; publisher, editor & writer; teacher and critic. Positions of trust include Gehl Institute Board Member. With DIS since 2002.Email: ; .
Learning Objectives
The general themes can be summarized into three main course objectives:
- Learn to observe and study 1:1 urban phenomena
- Gain insight into the broad array of disciplines and cross-sectorial collaborations contributing to and impacting the production of urban environment.
- Acquire skills to investigate the numerous parameters that affect the relative nature of ‘urban livability’
- Learn to extract the essentials and to articulate these findings
- Learn to critically analyze these parameters simultaneously to synthesize between observations, statistical analysis and theory
- Analyze the factors that dictate the daily routines and perceptions that shape everyday life in the city
- Learn to discuss constructively
- Through discussion acquire a more nuanced and holistic understanding of livability and sustainability
Approach to Teaching
The teaching approach consists offirst hand experiences combined with class room discussions, lectures and text readings, generating a full learning experience. Through site visits and field studies, students will explore how livability manifests itself in the City of Copenhagen, which is widely considered one of the most ‘livable’ cities in the world. Students will analyze Copenhagen at various scales, ranging from specific streets, to neighborhoods, to city districts. Throughout the course, the concept of livability will be revisited and refined to gain a deeper understanding of what is meant by livability and how design and policy both shape urban environments and can respond to urban challenges.
Assignments
The assignments seek to provide specific tools and skills for a holistic understanding of the numerous visible and invisible parameters shaping cities for people today. Assignments will include text analysis,comparative analysis of both sites and texts, comparative studies of policy vs. reality, field studies and observation studies, interview studies, and academic analysis of on-site findings. Students are to compile and record observational findings from field studies andsite analysis into a class notebook (‘livability encyclopedia’), which will serve as an active tool and reference throughout the course. For the final exam, students will be expected to synthesize skills perfected throughout the semester into a coherent whole.
Field Studies
The class includes on-site discussions during field trips, which are considered integral parts of the
coursework. So please contribute to these discussion. And be prepared to be out in the field: bring appropriate clothing and shoes, digital camera and sketchbook for each class. DIS will provide either a bicycleor public transport fares if necessary.
Expectations of the Students
The required reading list will be relatively small in terms of number of pages, but demanding in terms of content. Students are to form groups, and will be assigned specific readings in which they will briefly summarize readings and lead class discussions. It is expected that readings are completed prior to class lectures as informed participation in lecture discussions is compulsory for everyone. Further, lectures and field studies will not replace readings, but rather complement topics covered in the readings. Therefore attendance at all class functions is a must.
Evaluation
- 20% Engagement in class; class and field trip attendance; reading and discussion assignments
- 20% Assignment 1: Urban Observations, a site analysis using new data collection methods
- 20% Assignment 2: Theory vs. Reality: Observing life in the city
- 40% Assignment 3: Urban Narratives: The pop-up city
Disability and resource statement
Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Maryn Wells () to coordinate this. In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.
Policies
Attendance
You are expected to attend all DIS classes when scheduled. If you miss two classes the Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Student Affairs will be notified and they will follow-up with you to make sure that all is well. Absences will jeopardize your grade and your standing at DIS. Allowances will be made in cases of illness, but you will need to provide a doctor’s note.
Academic Honesty
DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be no fi ed. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software. See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.
Electronic Devices in the classroom: The use of electronic devices is restricted to note-taking during lectures and field studies.
Class / Day / Who / Class topic + ReadingTHE CITY AS HUMAN HABITAT
1 / Intro to Livability, What is this class?
- Why does Urban Design Matter?
- Human Scale the Big Picture
Student and Teacher Expectations - Watch: Urbanized! Documentary film
- Turner, Chris. “Chapter 5: The leap in the city” in the Leap. pp.210-216, 234-243
- City of CPH Municipal Plan 2011
- Wang, Wilfried, “Sustainability is a Cultural Issue”, Harvard Design Magazine, Summer/Spring 2003
2 / The Street: Walk & Talk
- Copenhagen Constitutionals: Pockets of the Inner City offering Peace of Mind
- The Street: Transport vs People
Required reading:
- Sennett, Richard. “The Open City” in The Endless City.
- Sennett, Richard. “Democratic Space”
3 / A City for People requires People for Cities
- People for Cities – Who Decides
- Data Day – learning to observe and measure your city
- Site visit: Islands Brygge
Required reading:
- Gehl, Jan. “Cities for People”
- Gehl, Jan. “How to Study Public Life”
- Frug, Gerald, “Who Decides, Who Decides”, p. 14, Governing Urban Futures, Urban Age, 2014.
4 / MalmøDay (BIKES!)
- Train to Malmö
- Tour BO01 by bicycle
- Cycleto Møllan – tour of Møllan, Malmø
(Lunch in Malmø)
Whyte, William. “Social Life of Small Urban Spaces” 1982
5 / Urban Theory/Urban Alternatives
- Analyse urban theorists
- Introduce 24 hourgroupassignment
Required reading:
- Jacobs, Jane. “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”
- Gehl, Jan. “Life betweenbuildings” 1987
6 / Assignment 2 Due – In class presentations
7 / Bicycle Urbanism Pt 1. (BIKES!)
- Ole Kassaw Presentation Cycling Without Age
- Bicycling with Cycling Without Age
- Watch Bianca Hermansen Bicycle Urbanism lecture
8 / GEHL DAY
- Intro to GEHL 101
- Walking tour of Vesterbro, Kristian Villadsen
- Lunch in Meat PackingDistrict
- Viewing of the Human Scale Gehl film
9 / Bicycle Urbanism Pt 2. (BIKES!)
- Transport vs. Lifestyle, field study: 4 zip codes, 4 types of infrastructure
- Copenhagen Municipality. “The Danish Bicycle Account.”
-Copenhagen Municipality. Solutions for Sustainable Cities pg. 14-20
- Watch mikaelcolville-andersen TED TALK: Bicycle Culture by Design
10 / Livability vs. Gentrification: the CPH approach
- HarborscapesAreas of Impunity
- Harbor Taxi tour of south harbor
- Assignment 3 Hand Out
- Copenhagen Municipality. “Integrated Urban Renewal” 2012. From Slum Clearance to Urban Policy
- Gentrification Debates Chs 2 and 7
Assignment 3 Group Work Day
11 / HappyCities
- Cities and the Pursuit of Happiness
- Potatoes to Tomatoes
Site Visit: Potato Rows & Østergro
- Montgomery, Charles. Happy City. Chap 2 pg 25-43
- GluckseligeStadte, Urban Planning and Pursuit of Happiness
- The Happiness Research Institute, The Happy Danes
12 / LivableLovable!
- Presentyour pop-up
- Assignment 3 Due
- LIvabilitySpectrumconclusions.
Schedule subject to change with as much notice as possible.
All edits after the start of the courses to the syllabus will be made on DIS Canvas only.
Strategies for Urban Livability| DIS| Disciplines: Sociology, Urban Design, Urban Studies