European Urban Design Theories

Fall & Spring | 3 credits | Elective
Majors: Architecture, Design, and Urban Studies

This course studies the underlying theories and methodologies of urban design, as practiced in Europe since the mid-20th century. Urban design is understood as a synthesis of the disciplines of planning, building and landscape architecture, sociology, geography, and urban history. The course will delineate to students how design theories are carried out in reality in Copenhagen and nearby urban areas. Relations, differences, and similarities between European and American cities as socio-political contexts will be discussed.

Section A	View syllabus
Section B	View syllabus

Field Studies

Copenhagen Inner City

In-class visits to different neighborhoods in Copenhagen showing urban planning over time, including the medieval city, Orestad, sustainable housing blocks, public spaces and squares in the inner city

Office Visit

Office visit to Gehl Architects

Southern Sweden

Sustainable Cities and New Urbanism in Sweden, visiting Sluseholmen, Bo01 in Malmo, Jakriborg, and Helsingborg

Instructors

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  Kristian Skovbakke Villadsen

  Urban designer and Architect, M.A.A. (School of Architecture, Aarhus, 2005). Project architect at Crimson Architectural Historians in Rotterdam, 2003-2004. Project Architect at Gehl Architects since 2005. National and international working experience in urban regeneration projects. With DIS since 2007.

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  Henning Thomsen

  BA Political Science (Århus University, 1985). Architect (School of Architecture, Aarhus, 1992). Visiting Researcher (Cambridge University, 1994-95). Master of Management Development (Copenhagen Business School, 2008). Leading positions with the Ministry of Urban Affairs, Realdania, the Architects Association, the Danish Architecture Center and Gehl Architects. Founder and owner of Byens Øjne – Office for Urban Quality. With DIS 1997-2002 and since 2011.

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  Camilla Richter-Friis van Deurs

  Architect, M.A.A. (Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, 2002). Employment with C.F. Møllers Tegnestue, landscape architect Svend Kierkegaard M.D.L. Ph.D. candidate at the Centre for Public Space Research, Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Project Manager, Gehl Architects, since 2002. With DIS since 2004.