The RIBA and ARB consider competencies in urban design essential skills for the development of architects and the architectural profession (MArch/ Part 2 ARB Criteria 2024). In this module students develop design thinking in relation to broader urban contexts, reflecting on issues that impact the development of successful urban spaces, networks, identities, social needs and values and environments. Orientated towards the analysis of urban spaces, and engaging with theories, precedent and practices of historical and contemporary urban design in diverse contexts, the module asks students to reflect on these current practices through their studio design projects. Within specialist design units, students will be guided through weekly lectures to develop holistic social and environmental analysis and design proposals, which address identified urban needs and enhance the performance of existing urban contexts. Working in response to real-world scenarios, students will be required to develop speculative, reasoned and evidenced design proposals which contextualise and advance current practices in response to thoughtful, robust analysis of social needs and governance/ policy objectives in relation to planning policies, professional standards and regulatory frameworks.
This module forms the first part of a three-part curriculum on architectural design, delivered across three terms. In the following design modules, students will build on their urban design work through site-specific social engagement, design interventions and larger-scale architectural design proposals, maintaining and developing deeper and more detailed design thinking on the relationships between urban, architectural and detailed design.
