Module 3 — Principles of Sustainable Urban Design

MODULE OVERVIEW

This module provides the basis upon which cities are designed and built, or rather how they should be designed and built instead of emerging and growing sporadically and unplanned. The context behind what makes urban design sustainable is first introduced, followed by a series of videos demonstrating different theories for sustainable urban design from renowned urban theorists, which include good city form by Kevin Lynch, social theory by Jane Jacobs, Netzstadt by Franz Oswald and Peter Baccini, ecological design by John Todd and Nancy Todd, and new urbanism in Africa by Vanessa Watson. You will also find examples successes of these urban design theories from Zurich, Seoul and Singapore, and from Cairo, Cape Town, Durban and Lagos. By the end of this module, you will be able to describe sustainable cities based on principles of sustainable urban design theories.

Topics:

  • Context for Sustainable Urban Design
  • Good City Form by Kevin Lynch
  • Social Theory by Jane Jacobs
  • Ecological Design by John Todd & Nancy Todd
  • Netzstadt by Franz Oswald & Peter Baccini
  • New Urbanism in Africa by Vanessa Watson
  • Examples of urban theories in global cities (Zurich, Seoul, Singapore)
  • Examples of urban theories in African cities (Cairo, Cape Town, Durban, Lagos)

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Overall: Describe sustainable cities based on principles of sustainable urban design theories

  1. Describe what makes a city sustainable and liveable, and the roles that engineers can have in sustainable growth
  2. Explain the ideas underlying the various urban design theories in global and African cities
  3. Compare and contrast the principles behind the sustainable urban design theories

EXPLORE MODULE

Welcome to Module 3

Learning Outcomes

Context for Sustainable Urban Design

Good City Form by Kevin Lynch

Social Theory by Jane Jacobs

Ecological Design by John Todd & Nancy Todd

Netzstadt by Franz Oswald & Peter Baccini

New Urbanism in Africa by Vanessa Watson

Examples from Global Cities

Examples from African Cities

Module 3 Summary

QUIZ: Module 3

DISCUSSION POINT: Module 3

References


PROJECT FILES

Type: Assessments (DOCX)

Module 3 Assessment Answer Key

Type: Video Links (YouTube)

Welcome to Module 3

Context for Sustainable Urban Design

Good City Form

Social Theory

Ecological Design by Todd and Todd

Netzstadt by Oswald & Baccini

New Urbanism in Africa

PROJECT INFORMATION

Sustainable Cities: Adding an African Perspective

PROJECT COMPONENTS

These course materials were created as part of the deliverables of the Engineering Education for Sustainable Development in Africa (EESC-A) at the University of Toronto, which was funded by the Dean’s Strategic Fund, Connaught Global Challenge Award, and the Learning and Education Advancement Fund (LEAF).

This effort has come to fruition with the support of the following individuals at the University of Toronto: Murray Metcalfe (Project Director), Brent Sleep (PI Connaught), Greg Evans (LEAF Co-PI), in addition to Dan Hoornweg, Lulu Luo and Rahim Rezaie on the EESC-A leadership team, the online magicians Allison van Beek and Joanna Lau in the Education Technology Office, and Laurie Harrison at the Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation, and the amazing librarians, Mindy Thuna and Katherine Johnson at the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering Library.

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