Course syllabus for Key projects for sustainable development in a local context

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameNyckelprojekt för hållbar utveckling i lokalsamhället
  • CodeACE555
  • Credits15 Credits
  • OwnerMPDSD
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyArchitecture
  • ThemeArchitectural design project 15 c
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 17112
  • Maximum participants35 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Minimum participants8
  • Open for exchange studentsYes
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0123 Project 15 c
Grading: TH		0 c15 c0 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites


Aim

The aim of this course, which is a design studio, is to develop spatial interventions that can catalyse the potential of sustainable development in a local context. We use the concept of Key projects as a methodological tool to develop strategies and tactics for local development. The key part of the concept focuses on the capacity to open up a transformational process, but also the need for site-specific understanding. The course addresses the projective capacity where the architectural project is a tool to assemble relevant knowledge, resources, skills, and decision mandate.

In the course we increase the knowledge and understanding of the planning and development problems as well as the possibilities of a specific local situation and its regional context in the perspective of sustainable development. This implies to critically discuss and revalue spatial hierarchies, norms, and visions of sustainable development. The key projects will be used to train the ability to describe, analyse and interpret a local situation in relation to its broader context and potential futures. The outcomes are spatial interventions, strategies, and tactics with the ambition to reduce societal impact on the environment and make possible for a more just distribution of resources.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Knowledge and understanding

  • Describe and discuss how urban norms and city-centred planning influence planning and design for local and regional sustainable development.
  • Describe and critically discuss spatial consequences and political aspects of urbanization in relation to sustainable development of a local situation and its regional context.

Competence and skills

  • Use key projects for the inventory and analysis of the systemic aspects of the built environment in a local situation and its regional context.
  • Critically search for information and assess the quality of different sources of information.
  • Design and critically assess the key projects, strategies and design for local and regional sustainable development based on the impact of different actors and planning levels.
  • Motivate the developed design with reference to scientific, or experience-based, knowledge and value-based arguments.
  • Visualize and communicate the developed design and design process for clients, stakeholders and experts.

Judgement and approach

  • Combine knowledge from urban, rural, and regional planning and design in proposals for actions and measures in design for sustainable development.
  • Combine scientific and artistic approaches in the mapping and design process.
  • Critically reflect on the professional role, practice, and the need for a life-long learning.

Content

The course develops around three steps:

In the first step the students map and analyse the local situation, the context, and different possible futures. The outcome is potential key projects, specific spatial interventions that can open or lock the transformation of the local context. The key projects are also used to map and analyse available resources, skills and decision mandates and assemble relevant contexts.

In the second step the students develop their key projects to show how the current situation can be developed in a sustainable direction, either individually or in smaller groups.

In the third step the students assess and reflect on the broader impact of the developed key projects and critically discuss how the key projects can handle current spatial lock-ins.

Organisation

The full-time design course includes on site activities based on a specific local situation in Sweden in close cooperation with local and regional authorities, and other local actors. The assignments will be carried out in groups and individually. The work on the course assignments will be supported by field studies, lectures, literature, and seminars.

Literature

A list of compulsory and reference literature/study material will be presented at the start of the course.

Examination including compulsory elements

To pass the course the following is required:

  • Attendance and active participation at lectures, seminars, presentations, and cross-critics.
  • Delivery of course assignments fulfilling the requirements regarding content and presentation of the assignments respectively.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.