REMP16-Urban Design and Sustainability

Module Provider: Real Estate and Planning
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2018/9

Email: r.j.nunes@henley.reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module provides an introductory level overview of basic urban design concepts and sustainability principles.

Aims:

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of key aspects of the built and natural environment. In particular, it examines the nature, role and contemporary relevance of sustainable urban design and development. It covers the dimensions and constituents of urban design and planning approaches to the creation and maintenance of good places, with regard to the interests involved and the nature of the urban design and development planning processes. It aims to promote awareness of, and sensitivity to urban design, and strategic and local planning issues with implications for more socially and environmentally just development outcomes.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Examine the concept of sustainability and be aware of the different viewpoints and theoretical perspectives, which underpin it;

• Discuss the evolving concepts and principles of urban design;

• Discuss the substance, motives, roles and relevance of sustainable urban design;

• Use an appropriate urban design vocabulary;

• Identify, describe, appraise and communicate the design characteristics and qualities of places and spaces;

• Discuss the functional, environmental, visual and social use aspects of urban design;

• Outline the equal opportunity considerations in sustainable urban design including issues of disability and gender;

• Recognise the value of sustainable urban design; and

• Explore and evaluate the role of planning and development in delivering selected aspects of sustainable urban design

Additional outcomes:

• Develop Web-based learning skills, involving literature searching, research and case study exercises.

Outline content:

• Origins of sustainability and urban design practice

• Sustainability and urban design principles, and its value to everyday practice

• Policy guidance and delivery of sustainable development, and its enforcement

• Monitoring and evaluation through sustainability appraisal and design audit

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module is delivered using illustrated lectures, workshops and seminars.

Summative assessment- Examinations:
Not applicable.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The module is assessed through a two-part interrelated coursework assignment:

There are three components of assessment across the Autumn and Spring terms:

• Individual assessments of student contributions to an online discussion forum (Autumn; 30%) –Students are expected to engage in critical discussion of material presented in three guest lectures in Weeks 7, 8 and 9, and to contribute around 250-300 words to the discussion forum a day before each of the three scheduled guest lectures.

• Individual 2000 word policy analysis (Spring; 40%) – Week 15

• Group analysis of sustainable urban design, consisting of pre-determined individual components for assessment:

                               - Draft analytical framework (Autumn; 10%) – Week 12

                               -10 min in-class presentation of analysis/findings (Spring; 20%) – Week 22-23

Formative assessment methods:

In-assessment and discussion of group presentations

Penalties for late submission:

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:
The pass-mark for this module is 50%.

Reassessment arrangements:

The group analysis of sustainable urban design will be reassessed by a method different from the original assignment. However individual contributions to the discussion forum and the individual essay wil be reassessed by the same method, subject to variation by the Examination Board where appropriate.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 20 September 2018