This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module explores the idea of the city, and the major concepts related to urban life. It analyses and determines the conditions of their emergence within a broader cultural context. It traces how these concepts have changed through time, with the aim of enhancing our present understanding of cities and their regeneration. It follows the development of city planning and the establishment of planned, ideal cities as a political goal up to the foundation of new towns. In its dealing with historically modern cities, the module centres on case studies of cities representative of urbanism from the eighteenth to the twenty-first centuries, drawing lessons from the methods and types of documentation used in its development. The course also introduces the manner in which architecture has generated a number of spontaneous and critical responses to the demands of the city in the past four decades. The arguments are drawn from sources in architectural and urban theory, philosophy, art history, anthropology, literary sources and social sciences.
Total contact hours: 30 hours
Private study hours: 270 hours
Total study hours: 300 hours
Main assessment methods
4000 word essay (100%)
Reassessment methods
Like for like
Indicative Reading List
Fishman, R. (1982). Urban Utopias of the Twentieth Century. Cambridge (MA) and London: MIT.
Hall, P. (1998). Cities in Civilisation, London: Phoenix Orion.
Kostof, S. (1991). The City Assembled, London and New York: Thames & Hudson.
LeGates, R. & Stout, F. (eds) (2011). The City Reader. London and New York: Routledge.
Sassen, S. (2001) The Global City: New York,. London, Tokyo. Princeton: NJ: Princeton
University Press.
Soja, E. (2000). Postmetropolis: Critical Studies of Cities and Regions. Oxford: Blackwell.
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1 Demonstrate a systematic understanding, knowledge and critical awareness of current philosophies of urban design, architecture, the history of ideas, and the related
disciplines of cultural studies, art and landscape studies, and their original application in contemporary debate.
2 Critically appraise and form considered judgements about spatial, aesthetic, technical and the social qualities of an urban design proposal within the scope and scale of
wider advanced environmental studies.
3 Comprehensively understand the complexity of influences on the contemporary built environment of individual buildings, the design of cities, transport infrastructure, past
and present societies and wider global issues including climate change.
4 Systematically understand the development of major nineteenth and twentieth century cities, including new and theoretical cities.
5 Critically appraise and form considered judgements about the nature of the physical development of these cities in the light of their historical, social, political and
technological context.
6 Understand critically the influences on the development of these cities on conceptual and political approaches to urban planning in the mid-twentieth century and beyond,
until present Develop skills of understanding how big cities work and develop.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1 Creatively apply theories, research and analysis to the ideas, development and quality of a project.
2 Communicate effectively using a range of communication skills
3 Comprehensively understand the nature of differing types of documentation used in planning and analysis.
University of Kent makes every effort to ensure that module information is accurate for the relevant academic session and to provide educational services as described. However, courses, services and other matters may be subject to change. Please read our full disclaimer.
