Module 1 Background of the "Field"

As an architecture student I have spent so much time focusing on a small scope of site and structure, to put it in simple terms, compared to urban design which focuses on a much broader scale. And the scale only gets broader as urban design fits into city planning. As it is mentioned in the second lecture, there are many ambiguities to this “field”. But, thankfully there are some goals and principles out there to help us break down all the design concepts and theories. Urban design encompasses many aspects that envelop the built environment. In a way, urban design is about tying together spaces and places. After all, we are all part of the same environment, and even connected to some degree by the same ecosystems. After this first module I am already thinking critically about new concepts and ideas that I can apply to my architectural designs to allow for a more adaptive incorporation into the urban environment.

The breakdown of objectives, frameworks, and goals discussed in this module helps us to understand what specific pieces come into play when designing. Such as keeping in mind the history, culture, conservation, variation/vitality, environment, and architectural values. Urban designers are defining the “in-between” after all. It is the designer’s job to bridge that gap between existing build structures and unify space to multiple degrees. As mentioned in the second lecture, there are many ambiguities to urban design. Ambiguities do pose challenges, for instance, scale, economy, aesthetics, social aspects, objectives and so on are never quite definite. So it is our job to design objectively and take into account other perspectives.

Successful projects in the urban fabric arise from being informed and educated professionals before making design decisions. That is where research and analysis play an essential role. Having a background in urban thinking helps us to have the necessary information to shape the environment. The environment is so important when it comes to designing, since it gives the physical attributes where the design will be implemented.  Research is one of the beginning steps to the process of urban designing.  Studying and understanding patterns is how we make changes to space and influence the use of space. As discussed in the third power point, the morphological dimension of urban design configures the shape and form of settlements over time to understand patterns of development and the process of change. This can also be a great strategy for learning how to design for the future.  

After going through the first set of lectures, readings, and videos, I have come to the conclusion that urban design is a process composed of overlapping disciplines which aims to form not only physical spaces, but a sense of place. Place making and urban design go hand in hand, and are about envisioning and bringing people together. And we all have a need for community. The idea of bringing the new viewpoints, resources, concepts, theories and such together to make design decisions is a great way to make sure all the bases are covered. I guess that is why we usually have design teams. We are a society about taking pieces and coming together to form a whole. Which is how urban design came about, in order to bridge that gap; physically between buildings and socially among communities.