How can urban planning affect people's lives?

Urban design can significantly influence:
  • people - how people interact with each other and the environment, how they move around,  and how they use a place
  • the physical scale, space and ambience of a place. As such, it affects the balance between natural ecosystems and built environments, and their sustainability;
  • the economic success and socio-economic composition of a locality – whether it encourages local businesses and entrepreneurship; whether it attracts people to live there; whether the costs of housing and travel are affordable; and whether access to job opportunities, facilities and services are equitable

Key Terminology

Urban Design
Sustainability
Public Space

TASK 1 : OUR PLACE...

WE WILL DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE INTERACTING WITH SPACES ALL OF THE TIME, AND THAT THE DESIGN OF THOSE SPACES CAN IMPACT THE WAY THAT WE USE THEM
Take a look at the space that surrounds us here at school. We will take a walk through school to explore the spaces that surround us to investigate the ways that we use them.

As we wander, think about : 
  • Describing the space first. What can you see? What is the scale and ambience of this place?
  • How do people interact with this space? Is it a space to move through, a place to sit, or to play? A place to sit in small groups or large groups?
  • What gives you that impression?
  • Do you think that this space was intentionally designed for people to interact with it in a desired way? Why/Why not?
  • Think about something that you would change in this space. What would that change mean for the people that use it?

In your Weebly, under Task 1, paste and then answer these questions:
1. What space at Preshil did you analyse?
2. How do people interact with this space? (see the second dot point above). What gives you that impression?
3. What really "works" in this space, and what would you change to make it more useful for the community? Give one or two reasons for your response.-
The document below (School Space Handout) divides the school into different areas; you will be allocated one to do the above tasks.

AUSTRALIAN URBAN DESIGN PROTOCOL

TASK 2 : Analyse existing examples of urban design

PART ONE :  Analyse examples
In pairs or threes, choose a design project from the ones below in Interesting Urban Design Case Studies. Using the google doc. that was shared with you called Case Studies and Analysis, complete an analysis of this Case Study (the top part of the doc). Once you have completed your case study, upload a screenshot to your website.

PART TWO :  Compare and contrast 
In pairs or threes, read one or more of the articles under the heading When Urban Design Goes Wrong (see the article links below) Using the second table on the google doc. list the factors that contribute to a poorly designed space in the RIGHT COLUMN. In the LEFT COLUMN, list any features that you have identified as being important features of GOOD DESIGN. 

When finished, take a screen shot and load this onto your website.
We watched the following clip in class earlier. Re-watch it any time you like, to reinforce your thinking.

INTERESTING URBAN DESIGN CASE STUDIES : 

CLOSE TO HOME...
AT A DISTANCE...

WHEN URBAN DESIGN GOES WRONG

Here's an example of how to make urban design go right:

TASK 3 : DESIGN YOUR PARTNER'S BEDROOM

Picture
STEP ONE
You will be paired up and briefed to design your partner's ideal bedroom using written words, drawings, or both. This activity is to be completed in silence; don't discuss it with your assigned partner. You will have 10 minutes. Think about:
  • Colour schemes
  • Posters or art might they have
  • Bed and bedspread
  • Bedside table and its contents
  • Other furniture and rugs
  • Entrances, exits, exteriors, outlooks

STEP TWO
Discuss your design plans with your "client" (your partner) and the "project manager" (your teacher), and adjust your design based on these discussions.

WRITE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, AFTER PASTING INTO YOUR WEEBLY. THEN WE'LL DISCUSS AS A CLASS
  • How close were your designs to what your partner wanted?
  • How did you find out about what your partner wanted?
  • What compromises did you make after consulting with your "client"?
  • How important do you think it is for designers to consult the community they design for? Explain.

TASK 4 : Develop a Design Brief which presents the analysis of relevant research.


When you have finished tasks 1, 2 and 3, you are ready to start your own project to design an urban space.
First: You need to create a brief, and present it to the class.

You need to:
  1. Select a site using google earth & maps and upload several different photographs (at least THREE) to your website.
  2. Select at least THREE design USER specifications to work towards. We will develop these user specifications together.
  3. Develop your design brief using the design brief template on google docs.
  4. Copy your brief onto your website.
  5. Present your brief to the class, your mayor and project manager


NOTE FOR HIGH SCORING RESPONSES FOR CRITERION A  :
​i. you have explained and justified the need for an urban design project at your selected site 
iv. you have developed a design brief, which presents the analysis of relevant research.

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