This document provides the syllabus for a 3-credit course titled "European Urban Design Theories A" being offered in the fall semester at DIS Architecture and Design. The course will introduce students to urban design theories and methodologies as applied in Europe since WWII. It will cover historical development and current applications of theory. The class meets twice weekly and includes lectures, student presentations, discussions, and occasional field studies. Students will complete two written assignments - an 800-word essay analyzing a core text and a 1600-word essay analyzing an urban space applying course theories. Attendance, participation, and the two assignments comprise the basis for evaluation.

1. DIS Architecture and Design Fall 2011
European Urban Design Theories A 3 Credits
Lecturer: Henning Thomsen (HT), thehenningthomsen@gmail.com
Course Assistant: Annie Peyton (AP), ape@dis.dk
Mee ng Loca on: Vestergade 23-401
Course Descrip on
Descrip on of course: This course is an introduc on to urban design and
aims to establish an understanding of the theories and methodologies
of urban design as applied in Europe. Urban design as a discipline seeks
to integrate aspects from a variety of different fields, such as planning,
landscape architecture, architectural design, sociology, geography,
cultural studies and urban history. In this course we will aim to understand
the historical development of urban design in the post WWII period and
current applica ons of urban design theory in a European se ng.
Learning Objec ves
By the end of this course you should be able to:
• orient yourself in the post WWII landscape of urban design theory
• be familiar with the main development trends of ci es in Europe since
WWII
• understand how urban design theory can be applied in a prac cal urban
se ng
• through the applica on of cri cal thinking to reflect on the role and
task of urban design
Required Texts
Required texts: Reading material will be from the course reader (Larice &
MacDonald). Supplementary material will be uploaded as individual texts
on DIS Forum.
• Larice, Michael & Elizabeth Macdonald. The Urban Design Reader.
London: Routledge, 2007
Approach to Teaching
The class will meet twice a week and is conducted as a seminar consis ng
of even parts of lectures, student presenta ons and class discussions.
The urban design field is characterized not so much by definite ‘rights’
and ‘wrongs’ as by ques ons of appropriateness. Hence we do not aim to
arrive at a checklist, but rather we will use the texts and class discussions to
assess and understand the scope of urban design and the role of the urban
designer. Hence teaching and classroom ac vity should be thought of as
a common journey guided by cri cal thinking and innova ve ques oning.
1

2. DIS Architecture and Design Fall 2011
European Urban Design Theories A 3 Credits
Assignments
The course involves two assignments. The first an analysis of a core
text taking the form of an 800 word essay, the second an analysis of an
urban space involving references to theory touched on in the course,
taking the form of a 1600 word essay supplemented with photographic
documenta on. Further specifica ons will be given in class at the
introduc on of each assignment
Field Studies
Occasional field studies can form part of the second half of the course to
support our understanding of how urban design theory can be applied in
a prac cal urban se ng.
Expecta ons of the Students
I expect you to be fully engaged in the lectures, par cipate ac vely in any
discussion and be open minded to your fellow students contribu on to
class. I hope to establish an environment where we can learn from each
other as well as from the texts and cases we engage with and I expect you
to ac vely support this approach. Readings must be done before class and
should be done with inquisi veness. The ability to frame the appropriate
ques ons and to apply cri cal thinking will be valued and the class should
form the se ng in which to ac vely exercise this ability. In our discussions
in class please aim to make references to our readings, to support the
points or ques ons you wish to raise.
Evalua on
15% Engagement (par cipa on in class and group discussions and
field study a endance)
25% Assignment 1 (two-page essay/800 words)
60% Assignment 2 (four-page essay/1600 words)
Late papers will not be accepted. To be eligible for a passing grade in this
class you must complete all of the assigned work.
Disability and resource statement
Any student who has a need for accommoda on based on the impact
of a disability should contact Maryn Wells (mwe@dis.dk) to coordinate
this. In order to receive accommoda ons, students should inform the
instructor of approved DIS accommoda ons within the first two weeks of
classes.
2

3. DIS Architecture and Design Fall 2011
European Urban Design Theories A 3 Credits
Policies
A endance
You are expected to a end all DIS classes when scheduled. If you miss two
classes the Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Student
Affairs will be no fied and they will follow-up with you to make sure that
all is well. Absences will jeopardize your grade and your standing at DIS.
Allowances will be made in cases of illness, but you will need to provide a
doctor’s note.
Academic Honesty
DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual
honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their
own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic
dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in
dismissal. The students’ home universi es will be no fied. DIS reserves
the right to request that wri en student assignments be turned in
electronic form for submission to plagiarism detec on so ware. See the
Academic Handbook for more informa on, or ask your instructor if you
have ques ons.
Electronic Devices in the classroom
The use of electronic devices is restricted to note-taking during lectures
and field studies. Feel free to use your laptop for relevant notetaking. The
use of cell phones must take place outside of class hours.
3

4. DIS Architecture and Design Summer 2011
European Urban Design Theories A 3 Credits
Day Date Session Time Topic
SECTION A: MOBILIZING INTELLECTUAL POSITIONS
Fr Aug 26 1 10:05 - 11:25 The City, the Urban Designer and All Things Beau ful
Required reading:
• Madanipur, Ali. “Ambigui es of Urban Design” in Urban Design
Reader. Ed. Carmona and Tiesdell. 2006.
Tu Aug 30 2 10:05 - 11:25 Post-Modernity, Cri cal Thinking and Why Things Really Happen
Required reading:
• Bauman, Zygmunt. “Utopia in the Age of Uncertainty” in Liquid
Times: Living in the Age of Uncertainty. 2007.
• Bauman, Zygmunt. “City of Fears, City of Hopes” in The Copenhagen
Lectures: Future Ci es. Ed. Henning Thomsen. 2002.
SECTION B: SEVEN DECADES OF URBAN DESIGN
Fr Sep 02 3 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part I – Stunde Null (1945)
Summary ac vity: movie: “Deutschland im Jahre Null” by Roberto
Rossellini (1948). Excerpts.
Required reading:
• Le Corbusier. “The Pack-Donkey’s Way and the Man’s Way” and “A
Contemporary City” (1929) in Urban Design Reader. p. 66-75.
• Lyotard, Jean-Francois. The Postmodern Condi on: A Report on
Knowledge. 1979/1984. Excerpts
Tu Sep 06 4 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part II – Prosperity (60’ & 70’)
Assignment 1 introduced.
Required reading:
• Gehl, Jan. Life Between Buildings. 1971. p. 10-31, 54-74.
• Jacobs, Jane. “Author’s Introduc on” and “The Uses of Sidewalks:
Contact” (1961) in Urban Design Reader. p. 80-92.
Sep 08 - 10 / 09 - 11 Short study tour
Tu Sep 13 5 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part II – Prosperity (60’ & 70’)
Required reading:
• Krier, Leon. “Cri ques” and “Urban Components” in Urban Design
Reader. p. 231-250.
• Rossi, Aldo. “The Structure of Urban Ar facts” in The Architecture of
the City. p.28-61.
Fr Sep 16 6 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part II – Prosperity (60’ & 70’)
Required reading:
• Lefebvre, Henri. “The Right to the City” (1967) in Architecture Culture
1943-1968. Ed. Joan Ockman.
• Debord, Guy. “Territorial Domina on” in the Society of the Spectacle.
1967.
Tu Sep 20 7 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part II – Prosperity (60’ & 70’)
Required reading: TBA.
Fr Sep 23 8 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part III – Exuberance (80’ & 90’)
Required reading:
• Ellin, Nan. “Themes of Postmodern Urbanism” in Urban Design
Reader. p. 204-214.
• Koolhaas, Rem. The Generic City in Urban Design Reader. p. 215-226.
• Koolhaas, Rem. “Towards the Contemporary City” in Theorizing a
New Agenda for Architecture. Ed. Kate Nesbi . p. 326-330.
Tu Sep 27 9 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part III – Exuberance (80’ & 90’)
Required reading: TBA.
Fr Sep 30 10 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part III – Exuberance (80’ & 90’)
Assignment 1 due.
Required reading: TBA.
4

5. DIS Architecture and Design Semester 2011
European Urban Design Theories A 3 Credits
Day Date Session Time Topic
Oct 01 - 08 / 02 - 08 Long study tour
Tu Oct 11 11 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part III – Exuberance (80’ & 90’)
Required reading: TBA.
Fr Oct 14 12 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part IV – Awakenings (00’ & 10’)
Field Study: Exhibi on at the Danish Architecture Center: What Makes A
City Livable?
Tu Oct 18 13 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part IV – Awakenings (00’ & 10’)
Required reading: TBA.
Fr Oct 21 14 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part IV – Awakenings (00’ & 10’)
Required reading: TBA.
Tu Oct 25 15 10:05 - 11:25 The European City Part IV – Awakenings (00’ & 10’)
Summary ac vity: movie: “Breaking and Entering” by Anthony Minghella
(2006)
SECTION C: SEVEN ISSUES IN URBAN DESIGN
Fr Oct 28 16 10:05 - 11:25 Urban Space
Assignment 2 introduced.
Required reading: TBA.
Oct 29 - Nov 13 Independent travel break
Tu Nov 15 17 10:05 - 11:25 Urban Life
Required reading: TBA.
Fr Nov 18 18 10:05 - 11:25 Ci zen Involvement
Required reading: TBA.
Tu Nov 22 19 10:05 - 11:25 Mobility
Required reading: TBA.
Fr Nov 25 20 10:05 - 11:25 Sustainability
Required reading: TBA.
Tu Nov 29 21 10:05 - 11:25 Security
Assignment 2 due.
Required reading: TBA.
Fr Dec 02 22 10:05 - 11:25 Temporary Measures
Required reading: TBA.
SECTION D: CONSTRUCTING INDIVIDUAL POSITIONS
Tu Dec 06 23 10:05 - 11:25 The City, the Urban Designer and All Things Beau ful Revisited
Required reading: TBA.
Schedule is subject to change if necessary with as much no ce as possible.
5