The objective of this course is to equip participants with the fundamental principles and analytical tools required to design and evaluate urban places. Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Master the core elements and vocabulary of urban form and morphology.
• Analyze the legibility, imageability, and function of urban public spaces.
• Apply principles of human-scaled design to create walkable and vibrant neighborhoods.
• Develop design guidelines that promote quality architecture and public realm aesthetics.
• Understand the relationship between building type, density, and urban vitality.
• Integrate transportation, landscape, and social needs into holistic urban designs.
• Use visual communication tools to present and advocate for design concepts.

• Urban Planners and Architects
• Landscape Architects and Civil Engineers
• Real Estate Developers and Project Managers
• Municipal Staff involved in design review
• Students in Architecture or Urban Planning
• Community Development and Placemaking Professionals

• Case Studies analyzing successful and failed urban design interventions
• Hands-on Exercises in diagramming urban morphology and analyzing street sections
• Group Activities: Developing a set of design guidelines for a hypothetical district
• Individual Exercises: Conducting a comprehensive visual analysis of a neighborhood
• Software demonstrations of 3D modeling and visual impact assessment
• Site visits (virtual or physical) focusing on public space and street life observation

Unit 1: Foundations of Urban Form and Theory

• The evolution of urban design theory (e.g., Sitte, Le Corbusier, Lynch)
• Kevin Lynch's framework: Imageability, Legibility, and the elements of the city
• The influence of New Urbanism, Smart Growth, and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
• Understanding urban morphology: blocks, streets, lots, and building types

• The concept of human scale, enclosure, and complexity in urban spaces
• Designing for safety and perceived safety (CPTED principles)
• Principles of mixed-use development and the 18-hour city concept
• The role of design in promoting social interaction and equity

Unit 2: The Public Realm and Movement Networks

• Designing the street as a complete public space (Complete Streets philosophy)
• Hierarchy of streets, road diets, and traffic calming measures
• Block size, perimeter development, and their impact on walkability and network connectivity
• Designing for multi-modal movement: pedestrians, cyclists, and transit priority

• Principles of successful public space design (e.g., William H. Whyte's observations)
• Programming, activation, and management of urban parks and squares
• The relationship between building edge, street interface, and public space vitality
• Design criteria for public furniture, lighting, and wayfinding systems

Unit 3: Building Form and Density

• Controlling height, bulk, and setback through zoning and design guidelines
• Designing for comfortable transitions between public and private space
• The impact of building façade design on street life and visual interest
• Strategies for managing density while maintaining human scale and quality of life

• Designing for 'Missing Middle Housing' and diverse residential typologies
• Integrating affordable housing seamlessly into market-rate developments
• Principles of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) site and area design
• The balance between preservation, adaptive reuse, and new construction

Unit 4: Tools for Implementation and Control

• The structure and purpose of design guidelines and architectural review boards
• Introduction to Form-Based Codes: regulating physical form over land use type
• Visual analysis, photomontages, and 3D modeling for design communication
• The process of design review and managing public input on aesthetics

• Integrating ecological principles and green infrastructure into site design
• Designing for energy efficiency, solar access, and microclimate control
• The role of urban forestry and landscape in thermal comfort and stormwater management
• Planning for resilience: designing places that adapt to climate change impacts

Unit 5: Case Studies and Practice

• Advanced techniques for site analysis (contextual, environmental, social)
• Developing a compelling design vision and master plan for a complex site
• Case studies of successful placemaking and urban revitalization projects globally
• The role of temporary interventions and tactical urbanism in generating change