City Design and Urban Ecology - BADP3003

Global change and population growth present significant challenges to the resilience of urban landscapes. Planning and design of urban development is the most powerful tool to meet these challenges. This unit of study provides students with an understanding of the principles and practices of sustainable urban development and the legacy of design at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Students will develop a toolbox for embedding ecological and physical principles in urban design to maximize the functionality of green spaces for a range of purposes. This unit will provide an understanding of the interacting physical processes between urbanization and the local environment as well as issues in global sustainability such as certification of materials and utility of urban land use types. At the completion of this unit, students will be able to articulate the principles of sustainable design within the context of social, political and economic constraints at a range of spatial/temporal scales. Students will develop conscientious approaches to improve the sustainability and resilience of domestic and international urban landscapes.

Classes
lecture 2 hrs/week, tutorial 1 hr/week and 1x8-hr field workshop

Assessment
critical thinking assessment task (35%), case study in sustainable urban development (35%) and sustainable materials report (30%)