ARCH9063: Semester 2, 2021

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Units ARCH9063 Semester 2 2021 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

ARCH9063: Urban Form and Design

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

The unit explores the complexity and evolution of city form and the influences of planning and design processes and practice. Using Australian and international case studies, the unit will investigate how urban functions, cultural values; technological, socio-economic and political circumstances; and design theory and practice shape the form of specific cities over time. The course is offered with a strong commitment to understanding the relationship of urban design and form to Aboriginal culture and Country including practical examples of how to embed these into practice. It also notes the importance of understanding how concepts such as grids, place names, land ownership patterns, and ‘expert’ approaches to land and water management have been part of colonial planning systems, and thinking through ways of decolonising these approaches.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Urban and Regional Planning and Policy
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	ARCH9100
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	ARCH9021
Assumed knowledge ?	Some prior study of architectural, urban or planning history.
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Donald McNeill, d.mcneill@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Masterplanning and urban design Presentation	20%	Week 05	20 slides, 15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Designing with Country Presentation	20%	Week 09	20 slides, 15 minutes.
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Essay Essay	60%	Week 13	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Masterplanning and urban design: This assessment is focused on examining large-scale precinct design, with an emphasis on visual analysis.
Designing with Country: Students will work in groups to examine ways to engage with Aboriginal communities in urban design and development contexts.
Essay: Students will analyse a key concept in urban form and design, illustrating it with examples.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Course and assessment overview. Introduction to key concepts in urban form and design.	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Designing with Aboriginal culture and Country	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Interpreting the university campus	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Public space	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Embedding community and culture	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Infrastructure and urban space	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Tall buildings and urban design	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Fine grain and large scale urban development	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Place management	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Public art I	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	The master-planning process, and the structure of urban design practice	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Public art 2	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Course conclusion	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for each unit of study as per School resolution

https://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. recognise major urban structuring elements and patterns, and key building and spatial types in the urban environment
LO2. record and describe these structures and patterns and their evolution both graphically and in words
LO3. investigate and explain key changes in the urban fabric and their influences (cultural, economic, philosophical, geographic and technical)
LO4. discuss the relationship between urban forms and the broader planning and urban design objectives for a place; in particular the extent to which forms limit or facilitate particular desirable patterns of living and working
LO5. analyse and interpret urban form for urban design and physical planning purposes
LO6. explain urban contexts for architectural, heritage and landscape design purposes in a methodical and coherent manner
LO7. work effectively with others to deliver consolidated assessment outcomes.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Additional tutorials have been provided with more structured tasks.

Additional information

Additional costs

Additional costs may be incurred in the purchase of drawing materials and the preparation of presentations.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

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