Course syllabus for Urban planning: Theory and application

1. Describe sustainable urban development from the perspective of how rules, regulations and current practice form the built environment.
2. Recount for basic concepts and processes within the Swedish legal planning system and be able to read and interpret a legal Detail plan (DP).
3. Explain and use different principles of urban design and with good judgement use measures, dimensions and dimensioning conditions for design of streetscapes, building blocks, public spaces, neighbourhoods, parks and traffic infrastructure.
4. Analyse and describe different sorts of value in urban settings and identify deficiencies, needs and assets in buildings and the built environment.
5. Visualise and communicate ideas on how urban planning can create qualities concerning housing, social and economic interaction, recreation, mobility and accessibility.
6. Reflect upon their own professional role and show insights concerning collaborations between different disciplines within a project and between different stakeholders and actors in urban development.
7. Use building information modelleing (BIM) to model, describe and visualise the project area and issues connected to the project.
8. Apply geographic information systems (GIS).

The course is about urban planning and design for sustainable development. In a practice-based project different issues are investigated both as part of the specific project and as part of a bigger societal discourse.

Several themes are brought up and investigated: urban design and development; planning processes and their driving forces; urban desing principles; digital tools for modelling, analyses and visualisation. The point of departure is that the design of buildings and infrastructure has no one right answer but always needs to rely on good judgement and balance between conflicting values. The students train to discuss and reflect upon the built environment and also to consider their own professional contribution to sustainable urban development.  

The course is based on investigations of real urban environments and the studies are supported by lectures, excercises, and study visits. The work is guided by supervisors from academia and practice. Discussions between students and with teachers is an important part of the pedagogy in the course, as the complex issues of urban planning can unfold and deepen in conversations. A project is carried out as a group work, based on a real urban development case.  

Mandatory literature
Forsberg, Gunnel (red). Samhällsplaneringens teori och praktik. Stockholm, 2019. Valda kapitel.

Reference literature
Boverkets Byggregler, BBR, 2011
Forsberg, Gunnel (red). Samhällsplaneringens teori och praktik. Stockholm, 2019, övriga kapitel
PBL Kunskapsbanken Planering Boverket
Plan- och bygglagen, 2010
Trafik för en attraktiv stad. TRAST utgåva 3. Trafikverket m.fl. 2015

The course consists of two modules. The first module, Project 6 credits, is examined by group work and individual hand-ins, and graded F/3,4,5. This module addresses mainly the learning goals 1 7. The second module, GIS 3 credits, is examined based on hand-ins graded F/P. This module meets learning goal 8. Active participation during seminars and supervision is mandatory. Occasional absence can be compensated by corresponding tasks.