Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

School: Business and Law

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

• Unit Title

  Principles of Urban Design

• Unit Code

  PLN2601

• Year

  2017

• Enrolment Period

  1

• Version

  1

• Credit Points

  15

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  

• Unit Coordinator

  Dr Edward Edmond ANDRE

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Description

This unit asks the questions what is urban design and why do we consider urban design. It provides an introduction to: the contribution of urban design knowledge and skills, through the history of civilisations; the development of urban design thought, its application and institutionalisation; and the influences of urban design and the outcomes for traditional and contemporary planning in Australia and Western Australia.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded PLN5603

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Apply these fundamental urban design knowledge and skill principles to simple planning and development issues.
2. Explain the principles of urban design and why we refer to urban design, in historical and contemporary terms.
3. Interpret and communicate the foundations of urban design knowledge and skills and the use of these in contemporary development and redevelopment.
4. Understand introductory urban design principles from a variety of professional viewpoints.

Unit Content

1. Application of basic urban design principles to contemporary planning issues in Western Australia.
2. Contemporary issues for urban design ideas and concepts in planning and development in Western Australia.
3. Economic urban design influences - economic influences and their interaction.
4. Environmental and physical urban design influences - built forms, transport, places, landscapes and environments.
5. Government urban design - legislation and institutions for urban design, planning and development.
6. Introduction to urban design in planning and development.
7. Origins and purposes of urban design in a world context.
8. Social and cultural urban design influences - people and culture, community organisation and social structure.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit may be conducted in the on-campus and off-campus mode with particular unit materials for field work application. The on-campus mode will be supported by materials located on the ECU Blackboard website and electronic communication between instructor and students, individually and through contributions to an electronic class newsletter. On-campus students have a weekly 1-hour lecture and a 2-hour seminar. Lectures are used to introduce the central concepts of the unit and to guide students through development of the urban design principles and their conceptual applications. Off-campus students follow the same program through extensive on-line notes, case study exercises and web links, as well as the electronic newsletter and other web-based communication. Assessments will provide feedback on academic progress and learning outcomes to all students individually. A major project will require consolidation and integration of knowledge and skill principles learning, by requiring students to prepare a simple urban design strategy for a real location utilising principles and concepts developed in the unit. This activity will be developed to be conducted on-line and involving internal mode students (and external mode later) sharing information through an on-line project and progress log.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

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