Course guide of Urban Design 1 (2091134)

Curso 2024/2025
Approval date: 02/07/2024

Grado (bachelor's degree)

Bachelor'S Degree in Architecture

Branch

Technology, Engineering and Architecture

Module

Planificación Urbana, Ordenación del Territorio y del Paisaje

Subject

Urbanismo y Ordenación del Territorio I

Year of study

3

Semester

1

ECTS Credits

6

Course type

Compulsory course

Teaching staff

Theory

  • Francisco Javier Abarca Álvarez. Grupos: A y C
  • Francisco de Asis Álvarez Lloret. Grupo: D
  • David Cabrera Manzano. Grupos: B y E

Practice

  • Francisco Javier Abarca Álvarez Grupos: 1, 3 y 5
  • Francisco de Asis Álvarez Lloret Grupo: 4
  • David Cabrera Manzano Grupo: 2

Timetable for tutorials

Francisco Javier Abarca Álvarez

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  • First semester
    • Monday
      • 09:00 a 10:30 (Despacho Urbanística Etsa)
      • 19:30 a 21:00 (Despacho Urbanística Etsa)
    • Tuesday de 09:00 a 11:30 (Etsa. Dirección-Secretaría)
  • Second semester
    • Tuesday de 11:30 a 14:30 (Etsa. Dirección-Secretaría)
    • Thursday de 11:30 a 14:30 (Etsa. Dirección-Secretaría)

Francisco de Asis Álvarez Lloret

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  • Thursday de 17:30 a 19:30
  • Friday de 12:30 a 13:30

David Cabrera Manzano

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  • First semester
    • Wednesday de 09:00 a 15:00 (Despacho Etsa)
  • Second semester
    • Wednesday de 09:00 a 15:00 (Despacho Etsa)

Prerequisites of recommendations

There are no prerequisites.

Brief description of content (According to official validation report)

  • Theoretical foundations for urban culture: understanding the general social, economic, and cultural framework within which the construction of the city and territory is situated.
  • General theories of form, composition, and architectural types: form, composition of groups of buildings and mixed functions, land partitioning, and infrastructure layouts.
  • Architectural, urban, and landscape traditions of Western culture, as well as their technical, climatic, economic, social, and ideological foundations. Urban history oriented towards supporting contemporary city projects, referencing "living" chapters of history and therefore paying fundamental attention to the last 30 years.
  • The relationship between cultural patterns and the social responsibilities of the architect.
  • The role of the architect-urbanist as a mediator between economy and society, between citizens and government; urban sociology, theory, economy, and history. The architect-urbanist must understand the mechanisms of generating location rents, the social relationships between very different groups and individuals, and the experiences from around the world that, in late capitalism, are reconfiguring cities and territories.

General and specific competences

General competences

  • CG01. Capacidad de análisis y síntesis 
  • CG02. Capacidad de organización y planificación 
  • CG03. Comunicación oral y escrita en la lengua nativa 
  • CG04. Conocimiento de una lengua extranjera 
  • CG05. Conocimientos de informática relativos al ámbito de estudio 
  • CG06. Capacidad de gestión de la información 
  • CG07. Resolución de problemas 
  • CG08. Toma de decisiones 
  • CG09. Trabajo en equipo 
  • CG10. Trabajo en un equipo de carácter interdisciplinar 
  • CG11. Trabajo en un contexto internacional 
  • CG12. Habilidades en las relaciones interpersonales 
  • CG13. Reconocimiento de la diversidad y la multiculturalidad 
  • CG14. Razonamiento crítico 
  • CG15. Compromiso ético 
  • CG16. Aprendizaje autónomo 
  • CG17. Adaptación a nuevas situaciones 
  • CG18. Creatividad 
  • CG19. Liderazgo 
  • CG20. Conocimiento de otras culturas y costumbres 

Specific competences

  • CE10. Aptitud para: a) Elaborar programas funcionales de edificios y espacios urbanos; b) Intervenir en y conservar, restaurar y rehabilitar el patrimonio construido; c) Suprimir barreras arquitectónicas; d) Ejercer la crítica arquitectónica; e) Resolver el acondicionamiento ambiental pasivo, incluyendo el aislamiento térmico y acústico, el control climático, el rendimiento energético y la iluminación natural; f) Catalogar el patrimonio edificado y urbano y planificar su protección. 
  • CE11. Capacidad para: a) Realizar proyectos de seguridad, evacuación y protección en inmuebles; b) Redactar proyectos de obra civil; c) Diseñar y ejecutar trazados urbanos y proyectos de urbanización, jardinería y paisaje; d) Aplicar normas y ordenanzas urbanísticas; e) Elaborar estudios medioambientales, paisajísticos y de corrección de impactos ambientales. 
  • CE12. Conocimiento adecuado de: a) Las teorías generales de la forma, la composición y los tipos arquitectónicos; b) La historia general de la arquitectura; c) Los métodos de estudio de los procesos de simbolización, las funciones prácticas y la ergonomía; d) Los métodos de estudio de las necesidades sociales, la calidad de vida, la habitabilidad y los programas básicos de vivienda; e) La ecología, la sostenibilidad y los principios de conservación de recursos energéticos y medioambientales; f) Las tradiciones arquitectónicas, urbanísticas y paisajísticas de la cultura occidental, así como de sus fundamentos técnicos, climáticos, económicos, sociales e ideológicos; g) La estética y la teoría e historia de las bellas artes y las artes aplicadas; h) La relación entre los patrones culturales y las responsabilidades sociales del arquitecto; i) Las bases de la arquitectura vernácula; j) La sociología, teoría, economía e historia urbanas; k) Los fundamentos metodológicos del planeamiento urbano y la ordenación territorial y metropolitana; l) Los mecanismos de redacción y gestión de los planes urbanísticos a cualquier escala. 
  • CE50. Aptitud para la concepción, la práctica y desarrollo de: a) Proyectos urbanos y planeamiento urbanístico. 
  • CE51. Aptitud para: a) Elaborar programas funcionales de espacios urbanos; b) Intervenir en y conservar, restaurar y rehabilitar el patrimonio construido; c) Suprimir barreras arquitectónicas; d) Catalogar el patrimonio edificado y urbano y planificar su protección. 
  • CE52. Capacidad para: a) Diseñar y ejecutar trazados urbanos y proyectos de urbanización, jardinería y paisaje; b) Aplicar normas y ordenanzas urbanísticas; c) Elaborar estudios medioambientales, paisajísticos y de corrección de impactos ambientales. 
  • CE53. Conocimiento adecuado de: a) Las teorías generales de la forma, la composición y los tipos arquitectónicos; b) Los métodos de estudio de las necesidades sociales, la calidad de vida, la habitabilidad y los programas básicos de vivienda; c) La ecología, la sostenibilidad y los principios de conservación de recursos energéticos y medioambientales; d) Las tradiciones arquitectónicas, urbanísticas y paisajísticas de la cultura occidental, así como de sus fundamentos técnicos, climáticos, económicos, sociales e ideológicos; e) La relación entre los patrones culturales y las responsabilidades sociales del arquitecto; f) Las bases de la arquitectura vernácula; g) La sociología, teoría, economía e historia urbanas; h) Los fundamentos metodológicos del planeamiento urbano y la ordenación territorial y metropolitana; i) Los mecanismos de redacción y gestión de los planes urbanísticos a cualquier escala; j) Topografía, hipsometría y cartografía y las técnicas de modificación del terreno. 

Objectives (Expressed as expected learning outcomes)

  • Provide the theoretical and practical foundations for the proper professional development of an Architect in the execution of urban and territorial plans and projects. It therefore integrates the essential knowledge that the Architecture student must possess about urban design and spatial planning, in its different scales and environments. Achieve the initial knowledge and skill necessary to understand and design a good habitable environment in the city through exercises in comparison, differentiation, adaptation, accumulation, etc., of general values and specific actions.

Detailed syllabus

Theory

The course contents are structured around thematic units, all of which have theoretical-practical content, which are:

  1. Cities: Site, placement. City foundations.
    Forms: Streets, squares, public architecture, transportation.
  2. Layouts: Urbanisation. Grids and networks. Permanence, transformation, evolution.
    Architectures: Building, typologies, densities.
  3. Utopias: Theories, strategies, and visions.
    Functions: Environments, functions, intensities.
  4. Urban tissues: Land lotting. Plots and blocks. Forms, dimensions, and divisions.
    Guidelines and manuals: Codifications of urban planning practice.

*(The order of the thematic units may be altered during the course.)

The theoretical component of each thematic unit in Block 1 will consist of short lessons, approximately one hour long, in which general arguments on the chosen topic for each week will be presented. The lesson will be complemented with study material (books, articles, etc.) So that the explanations can be extended with the personal reflection of each student. Each thematic unit will include a discussion on what the student has learned. Different study methodologies, individual and group work, presentations, and evaluations will be carried out, which will be announced in advance in the workshop and on the course website, to reinforce these theoretical-practical contents. Urban research projects will be developed and presented, delving into the different topics covered in the units of the block.

They will be publicly presented in the workshops during the course.

Practice

In the practical component of the different thematic units in Block 2, work will be carried out on different urban fragments in teams. The various activities will be directly related to the topics covered in the lessons of each thematic unit in the theoretical component, as described in the previous section. To initiate the workshop activities, the following is proposed:

  1. Initial understanding of the origin and evolution of cities.
  2. Study urban models and cities, defining particular conditions, measurements, typologies, and general morphology. Different means of expression will be used (graphics, models, videos, collages, etc.).

The activities will be published on the course website before they begin. Generally, they will be carried out in groups, although certain activities may be designed to be completed individually.

At the beginning of each activity, the objectives will be explicitly stated, as well as the specific evaluation method.

All material generated by the student(s) will be prepared and published on http://doyoucity.com for open and collaborative assessment and dissemination, and all originals must be kept available to the faculty during the evaluation or appeal period, according to the current regulations of the University of Granada.

In Block 3, City Project, the development of project strategies in the urban work fragment will progress. This Block can be carried out in teams or individually.

Finally, in Block 4, Urban Project, the urban and architectural interventions proposed in Block 3 will be detailed. This Block will be developed individually.

Bibliography

Basic reading list

  • PANERAI, P. (2002). Proyectar la ciudad. Madrid: Celeste.
  • PARCERISA, J. y RUBERT, M. (2000). La ciudad no es una hoja en blanco. Hechos del urbanismo. Santiago de Chile: Ediciones ARQ.

Complementary reading

  • GUIHEUX, A. y DETHIER, J. (1994) Visions urbanes, Europa 1870-193. Barcelona: Centre de Cultura Contemporánea.
  • ALEXANDER, C. (1980), Un lenguaje de patrones. Ciudades, edificios, construcciones. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili, (Edición original en inglés: 1977); -(2002) The nature of order, California: The center for environmental structure.
  • AMENDOLA, G. (2000): La ciudad postmoderna. Madrid: Celeste ediciones.
  • ASCHER, F. (2004), Los nuevos principios del urbanismo: el fin de las ciudades no está a la orden del día. Versión española de María Hernández Díaz. Madrid: Alianza.
  • AYMONINO, C. (1976). La vivienda racional: ponencias de los congresos CIAM 1929-1930. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili. (1983) El significado de las ciudades. Madrid: Hermann Blume.
  • BACON, E. N. (1978), Design of cities, Londres: Thames and Hudson.
  • BENÉVOLO, L. (1978). “La proyectación de la ciudad moderna”. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
  • PANERAI P. (1986). Formas urbanas: de la manzana al bloque. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
  • COLLINS, G.R. (1980). Camillo Sitte y el nacimiento del urbanismo moderno. La proyectación de la ciudad según principios artísticos. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
  • De SOLÁ-MORALES, M. (2008) De cosas urbanas. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
  • GEHL, J. (2009). La humanización del espacio público. Barcelona: Reverté.
  • HEGEMANN, W. y PEETS, E. (1988) The American Vitruvius: an architects' handbook of civic art Princeton N.J.: Princeton Architectural Press (ed. Española El Vitrubio americano: manual de arte civil para el arquitecto Barcelona: Fundación Caja de Arquitectos, 1992) (1ª ed. inglesa, 1901).
  • HILBERSAIMER, L. (1979). La arquitectura de la gran ciudad. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
  • JEREZ MIR, C. (2011). ¿Qué es el urbanismo? Granada: Ed. Universidad de Granada.
  • LE CORBUSIER (1962). La ciudad del futuro, Buenos Aires: Infinito.
  • LYNCH, K. (1985), La imagen de la ciudad. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili. (Edición original en inglés: 1960). –City Sense and city design (1995).
  • POËTE, M. (2011). “Introducción al urbanismo”. Barcelona: Fundación Caja de Arquitectos.
  • RASMUSSEN, S. E. “Londres: Ciudad única”. Barcelona: Fundación caja de Arquitectos.
  • ROSSI, A. (1970). La arquitectura de la ciudad. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
  • SMITHSON A. y SMITHSON P. (1967). Urban structuring. Londres: Studio Vista.
  • UNWIN, R. (1984). La práctica del urbanismo. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
  • VENTURI, R. y BROWN, D. S. (1978). Aprendiendo de las Vegas: el simbolismo olvidado de la forma arquitectónica, Barcelona: Gustavo Gili. (1972) Complejidad y Contradicción en la arquitectura, Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
  • ZARDINI, M. (ed.). (2005). Sense of the city. An alternative approach to urbanism. Quebec: Canadian Centre for Architecture.

History of Urban Design and Spatial Planning

  • BENEVOLO, L. (1982) Colección El diseño de la ciudad, 5 vols. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
  • CAPEL, H. (2002). La morfología de las ciudades. Barcelona: Serbal.
  • CHOAY, F. (1983). El urbanismo. Utopías y realidades. Barcelona: Lumen.
  • CHUECA GOITIA, F. (2011). Breve historia del urbanismo. Madrid: Alianza Editorial.
  • DELFANTE, C. (2006). Gran Historia de la Ciudad. De Mesopotamia a Estados Unidos. Madrid: Abada.
  • GRAVAGNOLO, B. (1998). Historia del urbanismo en Europa. 1750-1960. Madrid: Akal.
  • GUARDIA, M., MONCLÚS, F.J. y OYÓN, J.L. (1996) Atlas historic de ciudades europeas. Barcelona: CCCB.
  • KOSTOF, S. (1992). The City Shaped. Urban Patterns and Meanings Through History. Londres: Thames and Hudson.
  • MORRIS, A. E.J. (1984). Historia de la forma urbana. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
  • MUMFORD, L. (1945) La cultura de las ciudades. Buenos Aires: Emecé, CAP. X. exópolis-necrópolis. (1979) La ciudad en la historia: sus orígenes, transformaciones y perspectivas, Buenos Aires: Infinito. CAP. X.
  • RYKWERT, J. (2002), La idea de ciudad: antropología de la forma urbana en Roma, Italia y el mundo antiguo. Salamanca: Sígueme.

Articles and others

  • BARBA CASANOVA, R. “Los ejes en el Proyecto de la Ciudad”.
  • De SOLÁ-MORALES, M. “la piel de las ciudades”, “la urbanidad de la arquitectura”, “el proyecto Imposible del espacio público”.
  • GEDDES, P. “La sección del valle”.
  • KOOLHAAS, R. “¿Qué fue del Urbanismo?”.
  • PEREC, G. “Especies de espacios”.

Recommended links

Teaching methods

  • MD01. Lección magistral/expositiva 
  • MD02. Sesiones de discusión y debate 
  • MD03. Resolución de problemas y estudio de casos prácticos 
  • MD07. Seminarios 
  • MD08. Ejercicios de simulación 
  • MD09. Análisis de fuentes y documentos 
  • MD10. Realización de trabajos en grupo 
  • MD11. Realización de trabajos individuales 

Assessment methods (Instruments, criteria and percentages)

Ordinary assessment session

Continuous assessment will be based on the following criteria:

  • EV-C1: Verification of mastery of the theoretical and practical content, and critical elaboration of it.
  • EV-C2: Evaluation of the work, both theoretical and practical, carried out individually or in teams, considering the presentation, writing, and clarity of ideas, graphics, structure and scientific level, creativity, justification of the arguments made, the depth and richness of the critique, and the currency of the consulted bibliography.
  • EV-C3: Degree of involvement and attitude of the student as manifested in their participation in consultations, presentations, and debates; as well as in the development of individual or team projects, and group sessions.
  • EV-C4: Degree of attendance and participation in the workshops, seminars, conferences, tutorials, and group sessions.

It should be clarified beforehand that, according to the criteria selected by the Department of Urban and Spatial Planning for the signing of the contract program with the University of Granada, continuous attendance of the course by the student is required.

From the attendance controls carried out throughout the course, the student must have a minimum attendance-participation of 80%. Failure to meet this minimum attendance-participation will result in a grade of "No presentado" in the Ordinary Call.

Upon meeting this requirement, the course will be continuously assessed through the presentation of work and the completion of tests throughout the course. This assessment will follow the determinations of the UGR student assessment and grading regulations.

The assessment instruments may include:

  • EV-I1: Written tests: essays, short answers, objective tests.
  • EV-I2: Oral tests: presentations of work (individual or group), interviews, debates.
  • EV-I3: Graphic, visual, or model drafts (drawings, videos, photo-essays, models…), short or extensive development, with descriptive, analytical, and/or projective responses.
  • EV-I4: Other work, reports, studies, papers...

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT will be conducted according to the following criteria:

  • The student must have a minimum attendance-participation of 80% (from their effective enrolment). Failure to meet this minimum attendance-participation will result in a grade of "No presentado" in the ordinary call.
  • To pass the course, each Block must be submitted and approved with a minimum grade of 5.
  • To be assessed, work must be submitted on the specified date and location, as announced in advance. If the submitted work does not reach 50% of the final grade weighting, a grade of "No presentado" will be awarded in the ordinary call.
  • If any of the Blocks are not submitted, the maximum final grade will be 4.
  • The course can be passed through continuous assessment during the teaching period.
  • If the course is not passed through continuous assessment, provided all Blocks have been submitted on time, the exercises can be improved and resubmitted for the final exam in the Ordinary call. Previously passed work can also be improved.
  • After the final grades are published, there will be a review period for the exam assessment.

The Blocks are as follows:

  • Block 1: REFLECTIONS: 20% of the final grade. Individual. Publicly commented readings of exemplary texts and public presentation of related research (10% Dialogue reviews + 10% Urban research presentation).
  • Block 2: APPROACHES: 20% of the final grade. In teams of 2-3 people. Practical exercises related to the thematic units covered (4 exercises at 5% each).
  • Block 3: CITY PROJECT: 30% of the final grade. In teams of 2-3 people. Development of general and specific urban transformation strategies.
  • Block 4: URBAN AND ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT: 30% of the final grade. Individual. Detailing the urban and architectural interventions proposed in the previous block.

Extraordinary assessment session

The Extraordinary assessment call will be conducted according to the following criteria:

  • To pass the course, each of the Blocks mentioned in the Continuous assessment section must be submitted and approved with a minimum grade of 5.
  • The work must be submitted on the exam date designated by the Faculty. If the submitted work does not reach 50% of the final grade weighting, a grade of "No presentado" will be awarded in the final extraordinary call.
  • If any of the Blocks are not submitted, the maximum final grade will be 4.
  • After the final grades are published, there will be a review period for assessment and/or exams.

Single final assessment

The Extraordinary assessment will be conducted according to the following criteria:

  • To pass the course, each of the Blocks mentioned in the continuous assessment section must be submitted and approved with a minimum grade of 5.
  • The work must be submitted on the exam date designated by the Faculty. If the submitted work does not reach 50% of the final grade weighting, a grade of "No presentado" will be awarded in the final extraordinary call.
  • If any of the Blocks are not submitted, the maximum final grade will be 4.
  • After the final grades are published, there will be a review period for assessment and/or exams.

Additional information

Faculty Evaluation:

The evaluation of the teaching experience will be conducted by the students who have followed the course. A critical assessment of the key aspects to improve (theoretical-practical organization, content, activities, tools, approaches...) will be made, proposing ideas and suggestions to renew the urban planning learning experience in subsequent courses. This evaluation will be conducted at least once at the end of the course and, if deemed necessary, also mid-course. This evaluation can be carried out and presented openly in class or anonymously and in writing.

Following the recommendations of CRUE and the Secretariat of Inclusion and Diversity of UGR, the systems for acquiring and evaluating competencies included in this teaching guide will be applied according to the principle of design for all, facilitating learning and the demonstration of knowledge according to the needs and functional diversity of the students.

Information of interest for students with disabilities and/or Specific Educational Support Needs (NEAE): Management of services and support (https://ve.ugr.es/servicios/atencion-social/estudiantes-con-discapacidad).