Class Applied Urbanistics and Urban Design

In Portugal the theory and practice of urbanism and spatial planning derive from a diffuse and shallow conceptual application, and aware that the result of good practices contributes to citizens having satisfactory living conditions, this group focuses its activity on the questions of theory, or theories, from training to the practice of urbanism; in understanding the needs of those who practice, developing tools/procedures for analysis, planning, and management of the territory and the study of urban space as a physical and social factor based on issues related to urban design.

1. Theory of urbanism

1.1 Urbanism, function of the urban planner, concepts and their relation to practice,

1.2 Urban concepts, models and urban treaties

1.3 Socio-spatial processes.

2. Methods in urbanism

2.1 The tools of urbanism (methods for the practice of urbanism - Analysis,

Planning and Management),

2.2 Analysis of the practice of urbanism in Portugal and the definition of strategies for improvement,

2.3 Monitoring, data systematization, analysis and evaluation of urban elements

2.4 Tools applied to programs and plans,

2.5 Participatory processes and their integration in the practice of urbanism

3. Urban design

3.1 Urban design in contemporary urbanism and its interdisciplinarity

3.2 Detailed plans and urban design

3.3 The main theories, concepts and methods of urban design,

3.4 The urban design process, from site analysis to propositional development,

3.5 Scale, composition and urban layout

3.6 Dimensions, parameters and urban indices

The assessment process, based on the preparation of a paper (scientific article) for each course on the topic covered in class, on the basis of the defined syllabus and, tentatively, the exploration of and reaction to the student's own research topic, is a factor that motivates the achievement of knowledge, enhances the consolidation of knowledge and the transversal relationship between the different topics (and essentially with the chosen research topic), helping the practice of effective communication of research results.

Reid et al. 2006. Identifying and Measuring Urban Design Qualities Related to Walkability. In Journal of Physical Activity and Health 3, suppl. 1.

_____. sd. Measuring Urban Design Qualities – An Illustrated Field Manual. Apostila. Active Living Research program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Farr, Douglas. 2010. Sustainable Urbanism – Urban Design with Nature. London: John Wiley & Sons.

Gehl, Jan. 2010. Cities for People. Nova Iorque: Island Press.

Kriger, A. and Saunders, W. (orgs.). 2009. Urban Design. Minneapolis: The University of Minnesota Press.

Scheer, Brenda. 2010. The Evolution of Urban From – Typology for Planners and Architects. Chicago: APA Press.

Tellier, L. (1994), Méthodes D'Evaluation des Projets Publics, Présses de l'Úniversité du Québec