Urban Forms and Structures

Code:

MPPU004

Acronym:

FEU

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Spatial Planning and Urbanism

Instance: 2014/2015 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://sigarra.up.pt/feup/pt/ucurr_geral.ficha_uc_view?pv_ocorrencia_id=355658
Responsible unit:	Department of Civil and Georesources Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Spatial Planning and Urban Project

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MPPU	15	Syllabus since 2011/12	1	-	6	48	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Provide students with a knowledge of the morphology, the tissue and the urban structure and also analyzing the qualities of urban design, urban project and urban composition in its various dimensions, aiming to qualify the network of public spaces in the light of the main themes of the international debate such as age-friendly city, accessibility for all, inclusive urban design, smart city. The context of these themes is the consolidated contemporary city, in the perspective of competitiveness and sustainability.

In particular, we intend to analyze the relative importance of programs and spatial design  proposals for the resolution of the problems which are presented in urban morphological units which traditionally or currently constitute important places of citizenship interaction in outdoor space.

The analysis involves the diagnosis of major existing problems in these urban outdoor spaces, and the evaluation of the effects of the implementation of specific programs and various spatial projects in solving these problems.

Learning outcomes and competences

The process of urban analisys and evaluation of a set of urban morphological units, that will constitute the principal competence to be acquired by students, will enable them to verify the outcoming results obtained from the implementation of the initial programs in the study areas, as well as the impacts of these studies / programs and spatial projects on the quality improvement of public space and, of course, on urban life and on the social (and economic) local dinamic.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Students Pre and co-requisites (the same mentioned in the Regulation Course :
a) Holders of a Bachelor's degree or equivalent;
b) Holders of a foreign academic degree conferred following a 1st cycle of studies organized according to the principles of the Bologna Process by a State adhering to this process;
c) Holders of a foreign academic degree that is recognized as meeting the objectives of the degree by the Scientific Council of the higher education institution where they intend to be admitted;
d) Holders of an academic, scientific or professional curriculum recognized as attesting the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies by the Scientific Council of the higher education institution where they wish to be admitted.
Other specific conditions can be set annually by the Scientific Committee of the course.

Program

1 – Urban morphology, spatial layout and integral urban fabric.

2 – Sense of place / the humanized city. Ageing friendly cities.
Public space quality and dynamics;
Reciprocity “public space - public life”; space social capital (between social equality and public sector control on private investments);
The integration of urban components in the urban fabric; inclusive fabric (spatial social and technological systems).
Inclusive Urban Design for Elderly - Strategy and  Methodology to be adopted.
Association with physical activity; social interaction and public spaces; social and physical access - health and public spaces; quality of urban design and quality of life.
Conclusion and expected results.

3 – The Evaluation of Public Spaces Quality
Qualification criteria;
Evaluation methods;
Participatory assessment and space appropriation.
3.1 - Morphological and functional evaluation of public spaces.
Definition of the issues to develop in the groupwork.
The composition of the morphological urban elements and their components.
The urban design in the unification and preservation of space.
Major qualification parameters for the public space.
The rehabilitation of public space: criteria and requirements the public space.

4 – Sustainable Urban Design:
• Conceptual models; development of analytic methods and e impressionability of urban design;
• National and International special case studies analysis.
Conclusion.

Bibliography

ANDERSON, Stanford, ed. - On Streets. Cambridge, Mass: The MIT Press, 1978.
APPLEYARD, D. - Livable Streets. Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1981.
BAKER, Geoffrey H. - Análisis de la Forma. Urbanismo y Arquitectura. London: Van Nostrand Reinhold (International), Ed. Castelhana, Editorial Gustavo Gili, S.A. de C.V., Barcelona, 1991.
ALVES, F. Brandão - Avaliação da Qualidade do Espaço Público Urbano – Proposta Metodológica. Lisboa: FCT / Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, 2003.
CARR, Stephen (et al.) - Public Space. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
GEHL, Jan - Life between buildings: Using public space. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1987.
GOSLING, David & MAITLAND, Barry - Concepts of Urban Design. London: Academy Editions, 1984.
GREENBIE, Barrie B. - Spaces - Dimensions of the Human Landscape. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1981.
HAYWARD, Richard (et alt.) - Making Better Places - Urban Design Now. Oxford: Ed. do autor, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1ª Edição, Joint Centre for Urban Design, 1993.
HILLIER, Bill - The social logic of space. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1ª Ed., 1988.
JACKSON, John Brinckerhoff - A Sense of Place, a Sense of Time. London: Yale University Press, 1994.
JACOBS, Allan B. - Great Streets. Cambridge Mass.: The MIT Press, 1993.
KOSTOF, Spiro - The City Shaped - Urban Patterns and Meanings Through History. London: Thames and Hudson, 1991.
LeGATES, Richard T.; FREDERIC, Stout - The City Reader. New York: Ed. dos autores, Routledge, 1996.
LEVI-STRAUSS, Claude - L'Identité in Seminaire Interdisciplinaire, direcção do autor. Paris: Bernard Grasset, 1974.
MARCUS, Clare Cooper; FRANCIS, Carolyn - People Places - Design Guidelines for Urban Open Space. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1990.
MARTIN, L (et alt.) - La Estrutura del Espacio Urbano. Barcelona: Editorial Gustavo Gili, 1975.
MOUGHTIN, Cliff - Urban Design: Street and Square. Oxford: Butterworth Architecture, 1992
RAPOPORT, Amos - Aspectos Humanos de La Forma Urbana - Hacia una confrontación de las Ciencias Sociales con el diseño de la forma urbana. Barcelona: Editorial Gustavo Gili, 1978.
WHYTE, William H. - The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces. Washington D.C.: Conservation Foundation, 1980.
ZEYNEP, Çelik (et al.) - Streets. Critical Perspectives on Public Space. Berkeley: Ed. dos autores (The Regents of University of California), 1994.ZUCKER, Paul - Town and Square. New York: Columbia University Press, 1959.

Mandatory literature

ed. by Stanford Anderson; On streets. ISBN: 0-262-01036-4
Stephen Carr ... [et al.]; Public space. ISBN: 978-0-521-35960-3
Allan B. Jacobs; Great streets. ISBN: 978-0-262-60023-1
ed. by Zeynep Çelik, Diane Favro, and Richard Ingersoll; Streets. ISBN: 0-520-20528-6
ed. by Haim Yacobi; Constructing a sense of place. ISBN: 0-7546-3427-2
Matthew Carmona, ... [et al.]; Public Places - Urban Spaces. ISBN: 978-1-85617-827-3
Spiro Kostof; The city shaped. ISBN: 978-0-500-28099-7
Annie Boyer, Elisabeth Rojat-Lefebvre; Aménager les espaces publics. ISBN: 2-281-19084-6
Fernando Brandão Alves; Avaliação da Qualidade do Espaço Público Urbano – Proposta Metodológica, FCG / FCT, 2003. ISBN: 972-8784-19-8
APPLEYARD, D. ; Livable Streets, University of California Press, 1981
GOSLING, David & MAITLAND, Barry ; Concepts of Urban Design, London: Academy Editions, 1984
HAYWARD, Richard (et alt.) ; Making Better Places - Urban Design Now, 1ª Edição, Joint Centre for Urban Design, 1993

Teaching methods and learning activities

Methods, organizational regime of the Course.
The subject is organized around lectures and the analysis of paradigmatic case studies, and uses either the organizing of a study visit schedule (if its realization is possible, given the regime of Students - TE regime), guided by Teachers and technicians involved in the visiting work, either regarding some lectures to our students given by recognized visiting experts in the context of the subjects addressed.
The subject use different methods and teaching tools provided by FEUP (CICA), using the various audiovisual technologies and new teaching models of online support (e-learning, SIGARRA, etc..), iIncluding:
a) A set of open source software to meet the various needs of teachers, researchers, staff and students of the Faculty (e.g. UBUNTU FEUP Edition v2010/2011);
b) A set of applications that run without needing any local installation from various operating systems - Linux, Mac or Windows (e.g. APPS Service);
c) Support services to classes using computer classrooms that contribute significantly to the effective use of resources and consequently to the effectiveness of own classes progress (e.g. GESROOM).

Software

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView)
AutoCAD Map 3D

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	40,00
Frequência das aulas	48,00
Trabalho de campo	10,00
Trabalho de investigação	20,00
Total:	118,00

Eligibility for exams

Evaluation Mode
There are some requirements for the subject evaluation mode, regarding a model of continuous assessment:
a) Obtaining frequency: consisting of conducting a final test (oral exam) on the topics discussed during the lessons;
b) Development of a work analysis / research on the topics / case studies selected by the Teacher.

Regarding the progress of the analysis / research work and its evaluation, the methodology consider the following aims:
• The organization of the work study should be supported by the description / characterization of each intervention, the level of its objectives, implementation and operational conditions of success, recommending the preparation of "chips characterization" synthesizing information deemed relevant.
• Assessing the contribution of various interventions for integrated resolution of critical situations and / or challenges of urban development and analysis of the conditions of their interrelationship requires prior systematization of objectives and assessment criteria. The choice of these areas of assessment should be based on a critical reflection on the nature and extent of the problems and challenges facing urban policy in the city, which are generally referenced in various existing studies (general, local, sectoral, Metropolitan ...) as well as methodological issues that they pose, especially with regard to the action of integrated forms of intervention.

An on-going Report should be prepared immediately before the beginning of the work, integrating the ‘characterization form’ of the intervention, the intervention methodology and the local work program.
Matrix should be built where the sets of direct or induced effects of each intervention should be indicate.

For the evaluation procedures, a final report should be done by Students, including:
- The characterization of the ‘intervention form’;
- The evaluation methodology (final version), i.e. the evaluation results together with critical comments on the project evaluation skill.

Calculation formula of final grade

Score Final Exam - oral exam is scored on a scale of 0-12 values (grade NEx);
Student's Report is scored on a scale of 0-8 values (grade NRep)

Final grade = NEx + NRep.

Minimum grade for approval = 10 values.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Special Assessment (TE, DA, etc..) follows the provisions of General Regulation of Student Assessment.

Internship work/project

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Special Evaluation (TE, DA, etc..) follows the provisions of General Regulation of Student Special Evaluation.

Classification improvement

Improvement of Final Results - The improvement of final results may occur through a written examination at the appropriate time of evaluation for these cases or, alternatively, through an oral examination if the alternative is agreed with the Teachers and the students.