Course

Spatial Understanding and Urban Theory (BYG105)

Facts

Course code BYG105

Credits (ECTS) 10

Semester tution start Spring

Language of instruction Norwegian

Number of semesters 1

Exam semester Spring

Time table View course schedule

Literature Search for literature in Leganto

Introduction

The course offers an introduction to historic and current urban theory, relating to urban planning and design. In addition, spatial analysis is introduced as a tool to understand, describe, and evaluate urban settings.

Content

The course introduces historic and current urban theory, relating to urban planning and design. In addition, tools to understand, describe, and evaluate urban settings are introduced. The course is rooted in urban planning (and architectural) history and theory, and spatial understanding and analysis are trained.

Topics discussed are: form and form language, place and place making, building and street patterns, urban spaces and places. Further, relevant theory relating to the design of cities and the urban environment are introduced. The student is meant to achieve a level of knowledge that allows to execute professional analysis and evaluations of the existing urban environment, as well as proposed projects.

Learning outcome

Students should obtain

  • Basic knowledge about urban planning, urban design and architecture theory and history
  • Understanding for the urban environment as both physical, functional, semantic and aesthetic reality
  • Understanding for spatial qualities
  • Basic understanding of relevant urban design theories and their application, as well as relevant literature
  • Insight into basic user needs

Students should be able to

  • Execute simple spatial analysis
  • Describe and interpret urban situations through thematic analyses
  • Use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesgin

Students should obtain general knowledge about

  • Graphic and oral representation and analysis of existing urban environments
  • Expressing ideas graphically (sketches, photomontages, diagrams, drawings, etc.)
  • Understand and discuss relevant literature
  • Professional discourse about theoretic and conceptual basics of own projects

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Recommended prerequisites

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) (BYG100)

Exam

Written exam

Weight 2/5

Duration 3 Hours

Marks Letter grades

Aid None permitted

Project

Weight 3/5

Duration 6 Weeks

Marks Letter grades

Fakta

Weight 1/1

Marks Letter grades

The project work lasts over 6 weeks and is submitted individually. When artificial intelligence is used in assessments, the student must document this by completing and submitting the self-declaration form. If you submit text, calculations, etc. that are directly copied from an AI writing tool, this will be regarded as presenting the work of others as your own and therefore constitutes cheating.

Written exam is digital on campus.

Mandatory teaching activities (excercises and literature seminars) must be approved for assessment and access to the written exam.

No re-sit exam is offered on the project assignment. Students who do not pass the project assignment can take this part again the next time the course has regular teaching.

Coursework requirements

Compulsory assignments
Four introductory group exercises and two literature seminars must be approved/passed to qualify for formal assessment.

Method of work

The course consists of a lecture series and literature seminars. In addition, there are group exercises and individual project work which includes tutorials and presentations. Paricipation in excercises and literature seminars must be approved to submit a project and access the written exam.

Tutorials are given during formal teaching hours and participation is mandatory. Everybody needs to attend group work and document their own contributions. Exercises and literature seminars must be approved in order to be admitted to formal assessment.

An Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign course is included in the course.

Open for

Open course for all students with an active right to study and who meet the requirements for general university admissions certification (GSK).

Admission requirements

General university admissions certification (GSK).

Course assessment

The faculty decides whether early dialogue will be held in all courses or in selected groups of courses. The aim is to collect student feedback for improvements during the semester. In addition, a digital course evaluation must be conducted at least every three years to gather students’ experiences.
The course description is retrieved from FS (Felles studentsystem). Version 1