URBPLAN 125 : Urban Planning Studio 1

Creative Arts and Industries

2024 Semester One (1243) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to studio and design thinking, the urban design discipline, research skills (quantitative and qualitative) and methods, and the land tenure system. Enables students to read plans at different scales and provide visual literacy skills, including GIS and other relevant tools, through a studio-based design exercise relevant to urban planning.

Course Overview

This course provides an introduction to methods and techniques of site planning and design. It aims to prepare students without prior design background for the studio sequence. Universities are unique places that represent wider trends in planning and design over time. A University campus is arguably a laboratory for site planning and design. Through the application of various analytical and design tools to the 100 section on the City Campus of the University of Auckland, students will develop skills fundamental to carrying out projects concerned with physical planning and design.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Learn the analytical tools and techniques necessary to carry out site analysis (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3)
  2. Acquire a visual and verbal design vocabulary which allows more articulate description and discussion of design issues (Capability 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)
  3. Obtain an understanding of the principles and methods of site planning and design (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignment 50% Individual Coursework
Assignment 45% Group & Individual Coursework
Final Presentation 5% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Assignment
Assignment
Final Presentation
A total grade of 50% or higher is required to pass this course.

Where a student faces unavoidable personal circumstances (e.g. illness or a death in the family) that mean the student is unable to submit a component of coursework, the student may apply for an extension. 

Applications for extensions require that students complete the Extension of Time Application Form. The request is assessed by the Course coordinator and Director of Urban Planning. The student must apply no later than five days before the due date of the assignment. In case of extreme difficulty closer to the assignment deadline contact your course coordinator directly. 

No extensions will be granted for problems such as accidentally erased computer files, which should always be prevented by keeping backup copies. When an extension is granted, students are expected to submit evidence of work in progress on the original assignment due date to demonstrate what has been completed up to that date.

Teaching & Learning Methods

The course will be structured around two interrelated themes: the analytical methods used to study a particular site and the graphic techniques needed for representing its plan and design. The class will be divided into lectures, skill-development sessions and tutorials. Lectures will introduce theories and analytical tools related to site analysis. Urban Planning Tutorials sessions will provide an introduction to manual and digital graphic techniques, the vocabulary of urban planning and design, and provide feedback on studio assignments each week. Class reviews and studio consultations of design projects will help students to learn and exercise the basic graphic language of recording and communicating ideas in site analysis and design. 

Workload Expectations

This course of 30 credits is assigned a student workload of 300 hours (divided into hours for lectures, seminars, tutorial, critiques, workshops and other teaching events as well as hours of independent research and study time undertaken by students outside the classroom). 

There is 70 hours of studio/seminars and 230 hours of self-directed study (~25 hours per week).

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at all studios to receive credit for components of the course. Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials, labs and studios will not be available as recordings. The course will not include live online events including group discussions/tutorials. Attendance on campus is required for all of the presentations/exam. The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

 

Other Information

Generally, the first session (9-10am or 9-11am) will involve lectures, seminars, and discussions. The 10am – 3pm or 11am – 3pm session is set aside for student presentations, tutorials, group and/or individual work and allocated critique (WIP crit) time where staff can assist you with your design thinking. Any field trips will be held during these session hours. Please note that the content of each studio session is subject to change as the semester progresses. Students are expected to be available for all contact time in our Studio.

Readings for each week will be included in the Weeks Module and are expected to be read prior to the following weeks lecture. All readings are also posted under ‘Readings List’ available at the start of the semester. I will also post extra readings in each weeks module.

You are required to attend each weeks studio and graded tasks or critiques require attendance to receive grades.  All coursework is mandatory to pass this course. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 20/11/2023 10:36 a.m.