Syllabus academic year 2008/2009
(Created 2008-07-17.)
ARCHITECTURE IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS - URBAN SHELTERABAN10

Higher education credits: 18. Grading scale: UG. Level: A (Second level). Language of instruction: The course will be given in English on demand. Optional for: A4. Course coordinator: Johnny Åstrand, johnny.astrand@hdm.lth.se, Boende och bostadsutveckling. The course might be cancelled if the numer of applicants is less than 10. The number of participants is limited to 20 Selection criteria: Previous credits and interview. Assessment: For a passing grade the student must attend at least 80% of the lectures, seminars, reviews and examinations. Approved presentation and submission of exercises and final project. Further information: This course requires parallel participation in the elective course Urban Shelter - Theoretical Deepening, 6 hp. Home page: http://www.hdm.lth.se.

Aim
The aim of the course is to give deeper understanding of urban shelter design in an international perspective with focus on the urban poor. The course aims to develop and synthesize knowledge from previous courses by linking concepts and theories in architecture and planning to the current discourse on development and urban shelter. The focus of the course is on the design of a housing area in a country in Africa, Asia or Latin America, where a filed study will be carried out.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

in writing, and with reference to relevant literature:

* identify the most important factors shaping urban shelter design internationally

* assess the role of the architect in complex international situations and processes

* propose criteria for the design of shelter and neighbourhoods that promote sustainable development.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

in writing, and with reference to course literature:

* describe urban shelter design from a problem-oriented perspective

in drawings, and with reference to course literature:

* design a high-density neighbourhood based of concepts and theories in urban shelter and urban planning

* design a functional, comfortable and aesthetic building within a neighbourhood

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

* discuss actively the role of the architect in an international perspective

* dare to test new work areas, and even to work internationally

Contents
The course deals with urban shelter design in an international perspective with focus on the conditions of the urban poor.

A city is a living environment that is used in different ways over both time and space. Half of the world’s population now lives in cities; a billion of them are poor. The global urban population grows by 180 000 persons per day, a city the size of Uppsala every day. In Africa there are more people living in cities than in the USA and Canada together. 4000 cities have a population over 100 000. All 4000 are led by politicians with more or less vision. There is an increase in natural disasters. During 2005 there were so many typhoons in the Philippines that they had to start again at the beginning of the alphabet to name them.

Often there is no housing shortage; almost everyone has somewhere to live. Urban shelter design is a question of quality. A billion houses are illegal, informal, small, crowded, unhealthy, unsafe and without services. The solution is not always new housing but gradual improvement. Shelter is a path to social integration, economic development, security, education and health.

How should architects work with urban shelter design now and in the future?

The course aims to give deeper understanding of the processes of urban shelter design in countries with different cultures, climates, socio-economic conditions, architecture and built environments. The influence of international organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank, regional and national development organizations is considered. The course deals with a multiplicity of factors in urban shelter related to social, environmental, economic and legal conditions.

Field research in a city in Africa, Asia or Latin American will allow analysis of the complex reality. Visit will be made to different actors in urban shelter, such as national government, municipal government, private sector and NGOs to discuss their influence on the role of the architect.

Some of the sub-themes include use of public space, issues of safety and security, gender and physical planning, urban segregation, energy use and passive climatization of buildings and urban space, slum-upgrading, finance for low-income housing, organized self-help housing and the role of the architect in an international perspective. Examples are given from, among other places, Algeria, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Kenya, Philippines, Morocco, Nicaragua, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sweden, South Africa and Tunisia.

The course aims to deepen knowledge and understanding of the theme and developments during recent decades through literature, lectures and seminars. The course is divided into three phases:

1 Preliminary studies (Lund).

2 Field study.

3 Applications and design.

Field studies will be done in a city in Africa, Asia or Latin America in cooperation with local authorities, companies and universities.

The course includes a description and analysis that will form the bases of the design exercise which includes planning a neighbourhood and designing a building. Presentation will be a short illustrated paper and designs with descriptions.

Literature
Correa, C. 1999. Housing and urbanization, London, New York, Thames & Hudson Ltd. ISBN: 0-500-28210-2
Åstrand, J. (et. al) 1988. 11 Lyckade bostadsprojekt: En inventering av genomförda bostadsförbättringar I tredje världen. SADEL, ISBN91-86596-10-1
Åstrand, J. (et al.) 1996. Construction in Developing Countries, Swedish Mission Council. ISBN 91-85424-44-7
United Nations Human Settlements Programme: http://www.unhabitat.org/
United Nations Millennium Development Goals: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
United Nations World Urban Forum: http://www.wuf3-fum3.ca/
Building issues: http://www.hdm.lth.se/bi/INDEX.HTM