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The Shaping of Urban Design (ABPL90316)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
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Semester 2
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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The subject is a critical and creative introduction to some of the contemporary tools and techniques that are required in the practice of urban design. It connects a theoretical backdrop to the practices of urban designers, as well as those of related built environment disciplines like architects, landscape architects, urban planners and strategists, and urban technologists.
It emphasises links between ideas and practice — particularly focusing on the various ways that urban change is produced or emerges — including fieldwork techniques focused on Melbourne’s Central Business District. It also explores various ways of graphically representing change, dynamics and evolution of urban environments, systems, and places.
The subject involves a group design exercise, called Incomplete City. This design studio-like ‘sprint’ runs through the middle weeks of the subject, and involves the creation of a city from scratch, produced by working in small teams which ultimately come together in the form of a giant collective drawing, developing collaboration, participation and visualisation skills as well as understanding new forms of urban infrastructure and technology.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Describe key urban design concepts, models, and approaches, including their sources and applications.
- Analyse and interpret urban form and urban systems for design purposes.
- Recognise major structures, patterns, dynamics, and key building and spatial types within the urban environment.
- Select and apply investigative and interpretive skills to inform an urban design project.
- Apply contemporary urban design theories and tools.
- Contribute positively and productively to a collaborative design project.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following skills:
- Have digital literacy.
- Presentation (graphic, written and oral) skills appropriate to the subject.
Last updated: 11 July 2025