705-317 Culture & History of Urban Planning

Formerly available as 705-117 Culture and History of Urban Planning. Students who have completed 705-117 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Any level two history subject offered in the Faculty

A cultural and historical study of cities and urban planning and design from early city cultures to 19th century 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 and drawn assignments equivalent to 3000 words, comprising two case studies (20%), a class paper (20%), and questions on weekly reading (20%), plus a two hour examination (40%).