705-117 Culture & History of Urban Planning

A cultural and historical study of cities and urban planning and design from early city cultures to 19th century urbanisation and sub-urbanisation. The subject examines some significant periods in urban history - first city cultures, classical antiquity, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, neo-classicism - in terms of the cultural and natural forces which shaped the structure and form of their great cities. Critical analyses of representative examples of urban form and style are presented. The subject considers the historical determinants of the spatial structure of cities and the physical design and form of streetscapes, public and residential buildings, gardens, squares and monuments; the evolution of urban design principles and practice in western cultural tradition; the effects of changing attitudes on the design of cities in history.

Written assignments (sketchbook, model, case studies, class paper), as set throughout the semester, equivalent to 4000 words, and a 3-hour examination (which may take the form of a class test).