Urban Design Skills: Observing, Interpreting, and Representing the City

Calendar

SES #	TOPICS	KEY DATES
Part I: Observing the City
1	Introduction Course Structure and Objectives  Warm-up Exercise, Short Walk  ‘Reading’ the City	Assignment 1 handed out
2	Walk - East Cambridge/Kendall Observations About How People Use Space  Students Take Notes and Diagrams
3	A Methodology For Physical Analysis Land Uses  Blocks and Parcels  Streets  Open Spaces, Edges/Entries  Building Types  Architectural Implications  Parking  Transportation
4	Walk - South End/Back Bay Students Take Notes and Diagrams
5	Freehand Sketching and Drawing Types I Techniques for Sketching in Pencil and Pen/Ink  Plans  Figure/Ground  Sections  Elevations  Axonometrics
6	Walk - Fens/Muddy River Observations About Natural Context/Open Space  Observations About Physical and Natural Spaces  Students Take Notes and Diagrams	Assignment 1a: Observing Behavior (Subjective Reading) due
Part II: Interpreting the City
7	Freehand Sketching and Drawing Types II Showing Materials (Conventions) on Drawings  Symbols  Line Types  Scanning Sketches and Labeling by Computer  Hand Lettering
8	In Class Presentation (Assignment 1 - Part A and B) What characteristics of physical space do you think impact the way people use it?  What characteristics are not related to physical space?	Assignment 1b: Physical Environment (Objective Reading) due Assignment 2 handed out
9	Rendering By Hand Colored Pencils and Markers  Land Use Colors  Hue, Saturation and Value  Primary, Secondary, Complimentary, Analogous and Neutral Colors, Color Interaction and Color Harmony  Rendering Trees  Shade and Shadows (Plan and Elevation)
10	Walk - Alewife Bringing Together Natural Context/Public Placemaking and Objective Readings of Place  Meet Outside Alewife T (end of red line) at 9am  Students Take Notes and Diagrams	Assignment 2a: Natural Context due
11	Fundamentals of Line Drawings I Context Plan  Existing Conditions Plan  Opportunities and Constraints Diagram  Concept Plan  Illustrative Design Plan  Fundamentals of Drafting by Hand
12	Walk - Cambridgeport Observations About Public Spaces / Placemaking  Meet at 9 am  Students Take Notes and Diagrams	Assignment 2b: Open Space due
13	Fundamentals of Digital Work Photoshop - Collage Techniques
14	Walk - Suburbs Observations About Public Spaces/Placemaking  Meeting at 9 am  Students Take Notes and Diagrams
15	Fundamentals of Digital Work II AutoCAD  Converting Files to PDF  Printing Tips
16	Review Assignment Two Open Space and Public Space/Placemaking	Assignment 2c: Public Spaces / Placemaking due Assignment 3 handed out
Part III: Representing the City
17	Models How to Make Study Models
18	Walk - Final Project Site Detailed Observations of Final Project Site  Meet at 9 am  Students Take Notes and Diagrams
19	Perspective Basics How to Lay Out a Basic Perspective Drawing  Model Photography Underlays  Site Photograph Underlays
20	Presentations - Case Studies Group Presentations - PowerPoint or Web (15 minutes each including Q&A)	Assignment 3a: Case Studies due
21	Graphic Presentations Layout  InDesign  Photoshop
22	Laying Out Final Panels Presentation of Cartoon Sets  Presentation Techniques
23	Work Day Continue to Work on Mixed-use Presentation  Desk Crits and ‘Dry-run’ Presentations
24	Final Review Review of Final Project, With Outside Critics	Assignment 3b: Mixed Use Infill Proposal due