Aim
The aim of this course is to develop the students’ knowledge about the theoretical premises for sustainable urban design. A further aim of the course is to expand the students’ frames of reference and enhance their ability with regard to critical reflection around current international trends involving urban processes of transformation. In addition, the course sets out to enhance the students’ ability to analyse urban space and structures with regard to sustainability aspects. This is primarily accomplished through qualified analyses of urban space and structures with the aid of recognised tools for theoretical analysis.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge about the theoretical premises for sustainable urban design;

• be able to understand the necessity and character of the interplay between the built environment, urban green spaces, urban structure and communications in order to design sustainable urban environments;

• be able to demonstrate knowledge about various methods for the analysis of existing urban space and urban structures.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to demonstrate the ability to describe, interpret, and discuss theoretical premises, objectives, tools and concepts within the field of sustainable urban design;

• be able to demonstrate the ability to carry out in-depth analyses of urban districts with regard to their structural and socio-economic relationship to surrounding areas and the town of city as a whole, with the aid of recognised visual, theoretical and computer based methods;

• be able to demonstrate the ability to formulate a sustainable development strategy for a confined urban area, with a point of departure in in-depth analyses.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to demonstrate a critical, independent and creative approach to theoretical and methodological points of departure for sustainable urban design;

• be able to demonstrate insight into the potential and the limitations of theoretical models as an aid for urban design;

• to able to demonstrate insight into the necessity of anchoring urban design processes in societal conditions.

Contents
This course provides a theoretical and method oriented complement to course ASBN01 Sustainable Urban Recycling. Its content deals primarily with the theoretical premises for sustainable development. Tuition is mainly in the form of lectures and seminars. The students are also provided with an orientation and training in the use of the recognised tools and methods for analysing and visualising urban contexts. Among these tools are GIS, Space Syntax and various models for the visual analysis of urban space. This work is carried out and presented in the form of assignments closely related to the design task in course ASBN01 Sustainable Urban Recycling.

Literature
Course compendium and supplementary literature, the contents of which vary from year to year.