Course Syllabus

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COURSE OVERVIEW

As the world’s urban population grows towards six and a half billion by 2050, cities all over the world are resorting to the mass-production of residential super-blocks to address new urban housing demands.  But is this model appropriate for all cities, regardless of their environmental, social, political and economic differences?  This seminar will provide students with a hands-on opportunity to understand how planning code regulations - specifically residential codes - can shape the design and functioning of future neighborhoods in our “urban age.” In this course students will explore case studies from around the world, research current urban planning challenges and have a chance to develop their own ideas of how to use zoning as a tool to better address those challenges. This seminar offers a multi-disciplinary approach to thinking about zoning and gives students from different related fields, such as architecture, urban design, planning and real estate, an opportunity to work collaboratively and holistically as they think about the complex planning challenges ahead in our urbanizing world.

COURSE ORGANIZATION & ASSIGNMENTS

In this seminar students will be regularly reading, researching, and presenting their own ideas to the class both in teams and individually. With the readings, students will be asked to submit short reading reflections (three or more comments or questions) in advance of class to inspire class discussion. There will be two project submissions. The first is a team case study project to document an existing zoning system. For the second project students will have an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned in the class and to propose their own zoning system for a hypothetical site. Students will be expected to participate actively in class to present their work and ideas both in teams and as individuals.

 

COURSE GRADING

33%    Team case study report

33%    Final project report

33%    Class attendance, participation and reading reflections

 

SEMINAR SYLLABUS & ASSIGNMENTS

 

NOTE REGARDING ALL ASSIGNMENTS:

  • Make sure to review the detailed instructions in the CourseWorks “ASSIGNMENTS” folder.
  • All assignment submissions are due at 8PM the night before class.

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT 1 (FOR CLASS 1) - due Wed, Sep 7 @ 8PM

See CourseWorks folder “ASSIGNMENT-1 HOMETOWN PROJECT” for full detailed instructions and associated materials.

  • Submit one ppt slide of images of your hometown and neighborhood to be shared in class as part of your personal introduction. Please use the powerpoint “HOMETOWN TEMPLATE.ppt” provided in the CourseWorks folder.

 

 

CLASS 1 -  Thurs Sep 8 

Lecture topic:  COURSE OVERVIEW & INTRODUCTION TO CASE STUDY PROJECT

 

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ASSIGNMENT 2 (FOR CLASS 2) – due Wed, Sep 14 @ 8PM   

See CourseWorks folder “ASSIGNMENT-2” for full detailed instructions and associated materials.

 

1)     READINGS

 

 

CLASS 2 - Thurs Sep 15

Lecture topic:  OVERVIEW OF NYC ZONING  (Guest Lecturer: Chris Hayner, NYCDCP)

 

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ASSIGNMENT  3 (FOR CLASS 3) – due Wed., Sep. 21 @ 8PM

See CourseWorks “ASSIGNMENT-3” folder for full detailed instructions and associated materials.

 

1)     READINGS

  • den Hartog: Shanghai New Towns, 305-320 Fujita on “danweis”.
  • den Hartog: Shanghai New Towns, 369-392 den Hartog on Community Identity.
  • Lu, Rowe, Jie: Modern Urban Housing in China, Conclusion pp. 283-296.
  • World Bank: Urban China. pp. 43-48 Optimizing Urban Land Use
  • Xue: Building Practice in China, Chapter 4 Planning Procedure.
  • Xue: Building Practice in China, Chapter 8 Regulations.

 

2)     CASE STUDY RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION

         See CourseWorks folder “ASSIGNMENT-4 CASE STUDY PROJECT” for full detailed instructions.

 

CLASS 3 - Thurs Sep 22

Lecture topic:  OVERVIEW OF RESIDENTIAL ZONING IN CHINA

 

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ASSIGNMENT  4 (FOR CLASS 4) – due Wed., Sep. 28 @ 8PM

See CourseWorks folder “ASSIGNMENT-4 CASE STUDY PROJECT” for full detailed instructions and associated materials.

  • COMPLETE and SUBMIT FINAL CASE STUDY REPORT  (team)
  • PREPARE BRIEF PRESENTATION (team)
  • SUBMIT YOUR RESEARCH MATERIALS to be shared in the class “CASE STUDY LIBRARY”

 

CLASS 4 - Thurs, Sep 29     

CASE STUDY PRESENTATIONS   [in teams]  

 

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ASSIGNMENT 5 (FOR CLASS 5):  due Wed, Oct 5 @ 8PM

See CourseWorks folder “ASSIGNMENT-5” for full detailed instructions and associated materials.

 

1)     READINGS            

  • Lynch, Kevin. Image of the City.  MIT Press, Chapter I (pp. 1 – 13)
  • Portugali, Self-Organization and the City, Springer, 11.2 (pp. 229 244)
  • Alexander, Christopher. Notes on the Synthesis of Form. MIT Press, (Chapter 2, “Goodness of Fit” and Chapter 3, “The Source of Good Fit”)
  • Weaver and Babcock. City Zoning, “The Process: The Control of Discretion.” (Chap 18, Planners Press APA)
  • Kwartler, “Regulating the Good You Can’t Think Of,” Urban Design International
  • Kwartler, “Housing Quality Program Puts Human Scale in Residential Zoning,” The Planners Notebook
  • Kwartler, “Just-In-Time Planning: New York + Houston,” Architectural Design

 

2)     START FINAL PROJECT

         See CourseWorks folder “ASSIGNMENT-7 FINAL PROJECT” for full detailed instructions.

 

CLASS 5 - Thurs, Oct 6

Lecture topic:  ALTERNATIVE ZONING APPROACHES   (Guest Lecturer: Michael Kwartler, Environmental Simulation Center)

 

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ASSIGNMENT 6 (FOR CLASS 6) - due Wed, Oct 12 @ 8PM:

See CourseWorks folder “ASSIGNMENT-6” for full detailed instructions and associated materials.

 

  • READINGS & REFLECTIONS

         The readings will cover two currently evolving approaches to zoning: 1] form-based zoning and 2] sustainability-driven zoning.

 

2)     WORK ON FINAL PROJECT

         See CourseWorks folder “ASSIGNMENT-7 FINAL PROJECT” for full detailed instructions and associated materials.

 

CLASS 6 - Thurs, Oct 13

Lecture topic:  URBAN AGE PLANNING APPROACHES

 

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ASSIGNMENT 7 (FOR CLASS 7):  due Wed, Oct 19 @ 8PM

See CourseWorks folder “ASSIGNMENT-7 FINAL PROJECT” for full detailed instructions and associated materials.

 

1)     COMPLETE & SUBMIT FINAL PROJECT REPORT

2)     PREPARE BRIEF PRESENTATION OF YOUR FINAL PROJECT  

 

 

CLASS 7 - Thurs Oct 20

PRESEENTATIONS & WRAP-UP DISCUSSION

Course Summary:

Date Details Due