About the course
This course introduces the discipline and practice of urban design and provides a critical overview of the work of urban designers historically, and in today’s context. Economic, political, social and cultural factors that have influenced urban typologies and city development are explored, including diverse eastern and western attitudes towards the way the world is viewed and experienced, from the macro-scale of urban planning and design to the micro-scale of the human body, social relations and self-organization. Issues such as increasing population growth, human migration patterns, sustainable urbanism, and the role architects, urban designers and planners can play are discussed.
Pittsburgh Public Space Project
This project documents and analyzes the existing conditions of various Pittsburgh urban public spaces. This project aims to identify urban elements that contribute to positive vibrant urban public spaces through examinations of mixed-use zoning, private vs. public space, density, scale, and informal vs. formal activities.
Student teams documented and analyzed twelve Pittsburgh public spaces including:
| Southside Works Town Square Chatham Village Market Square Gateway Plaza PPG Plaza Allegheny Riverfront Park | East Carson Street Katz Plaza Roslyn Place Allegheny Square St. Stanislaus Square The Waterfront Town Center |
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| Gateway Center | The Waterfront | St. Stanislaus | Allegheny Square |
Click here to see all of the Pittsburgh Public Space Projects