Course syllabus

Welcome to:
ARK174 Sustainable Development in a Local Context! 

2021 – ANOTHER COUNTRYSIDE IS POSSIBLE

Study visit: The studio will go on a study visit to the local communities 21-24 of September and the 11-12 November. Travel and accommodation is arranged by the studio.

Introduction

The theme of the studio is planning and design for sustainable development with focus on small or medium sized Swedish municipalities characterized by both urban and rural areas. During the autumn 2021, the course will collaborate with the Västra Götaland region and work with four places within different municipalities. The design studio includes on-site activities in close cooperation with local authorities and communities.

There are elements that will take place on site in the different places. The course is full-time. Please note that you have to be available to work on assignments and course work between 8-17 Monday-Friday during the whole course. 

Background

As planners and architects, we will meet the challenges of contributing to sustainable transformation in the society through our profession. We have to plan, design, construct and maintain the built environment (land, water, buildings, infrastructure) taking departure in the vision of sustainable futures, which in our part of the world means, among other things, the reduction of energy- and resource use and environmental impact; i.e. reduce our ecological footprint and work for more fair distribution of resources. Further, we need to develop and apply approaches not only focusing on eco-efficiency and zero-impact, but also on regeneration and a positive ecological and societal change. Another important part of our task is to plan and design for spatial structures and a built environment that supports and encourage sustainable decisions and actions in everyday life – to make sustainable choices and lifestyles easy and attractive.

Planning for sustainable development demands a holistic approach and integrated solutions. Every task, proposal and measure has to depart from an understanding of the conditions of the specific place and situation in question. To be able to understand the local situation we need a broad knowledge that includes many different aspects but also visions of the future. This concerns natural, physical, spatial and environmental as well as historical, social and organisational conditions and potentials – i.e. knowledge about local ways of life and cultures as well as their future needs in terms of living conditions. We also need knowledge about the broader context – regional, national, global – and contemporary development trends. Furthermore, it is necessary to render, model and reflect upon and identify what the multi-dimensional and complex vision of sustainable transformation might imply in relation to the specific local situation, which also is multi-dimensional and complex in itself. Here architects and planners can combine critical perspectives on current situations with generative design thinking to formulate and develop directions, strategies, tactics and projects for transition to sustainable futures.

 

Aim

The overall aim of the design studio is:

... to increase knowledge and understanding of the planning, design and development problems as well as possibilities of small and medium sized municipalities / communities / towns in the perspective of sustainable development.

... to train the ability to describe, analyse and interpret the local situation in a broad perspective, including spatial and architectural characteristics as well as environmental, social and economic aspects.

... to, with a point of departure in an understanding of the conditions of place in a local as well as in a broader context, work out and try visionary principles of planning and design of spatial structures and the built environment, in support of positive and sustainable futures.

 

Content and structure

Design Studio Part A: Local Communities. Planning and design strategies for sustainable development

The first part of the studio focuses on understanding and analysing a local situation, also in a larger geographical and functional context, identifying local development objectives and work on comprehensive planning and design strategies in support of sustainable transformation. The assignment consists of three different parts with different focus: 1) The Local Situation 2) The Broader Context 3) Rurban Futures. You will receive separate PM:s regarding the assignments for the different part during the course, including delivery requirements.

Design Studio Part B: The In-Depth Projects

The second part contains work on a planning and design project – an in-depth project - that can support the directions and strategies developed in part A. These projects may be carried out at different spatial levels and are developed in smaller groups.  The course assignment during part B, will be described in detail in a separate PM, including delivery requirements

Design Studio Part C - Exhibition and Presentation on Site

The last part of the course is about communicating the outcomes of the studio and contains work on an exhibition and presentation on site for local stakeholders and inhabitants (last 1,5 - 2 weeks). The course assignment during part C, will be described in detail in a separate PM, including delivery requirements.

 

During the design studio, methods and tools will be introduced and applied for: 

• Analysis of a local situation concerning natural conditions, the built structure and social formal and informal institutions as well as the different perspectives and values of local stakeholders.
• Analysis of driving forces and trends in a broader context.
• Models and scenarios for different futures.
• Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) in the perspective of transition to sustainable futures.
• Identifying sustainable directions for the local context.
• Setting up a programme for a planning and/or design project based on the directions and strategies developed
• Designing a project according to the programme.
• Communication, presentation and exhibition on site for local stakeholders and inhabitants.
• The design studio includes lectures, seminars, workshops, literature studies and field studies related to different parts of the course assignments.           

    

Learning outcomes

After completion of this course, the student should:

• Be able to describe and discuss different perspectives on planning and design for sustainable development in small and medium sized municipalities/towns.
• Be able to describe and discuss different approaches to sustainable urban–rural development.
• Be able to use analytical methods and tools for the inventory and critical analysis of a local situation, especially concerning urban structures and the built environment.
• Be able to design and assess strategies and concrete proposals for local sustainable development.
• Be able to combine knowledge from different disciplines and sectors in proposals for actions and measures in design for sustainable development and combine scientific and artistic approaches in the design process.
• Be able to motivate different proposals with reference to scientific, or experience-based, knowledge and value-based arguments.
• Be able to visualise and communicate different proposals for clients, stakeholders and experts in different stages of the design process.
• Be able to critically search for information and assess the quality of different sources of information.

 

Examination

To pass the design studio the following is required:

• Attendance and active participation at lectures/seminars.
• Active participation in group work, presentations and cross-critics.
• Delivery of course assignments of sufficient quality (fulfilling the requirements regarding content and presentation of the assignments respectively).
• Active participation in exhibition/presentation on site.

 

Grading

5, 4, 3 or not passed.

 

Criteria for grading

Design studio part A: group work in changing constellations

All students that have passed the requirements will have grade 4 (Chalmers grades)

Design studio part B and part C: work in smaller groups (2-3 students) and communication of results

What will we take in consideration?

• The logic relation between the in-depth project idea and the overall aim to support sustainable development locally, based on the findings and conclusions from Part A.
• The quality of the project design, the knowledge base, balancing innovation and realism as well as function and form.
• The communication of the project in report, posters and orally.
• Reflections on the impact of in depth projects on sustainable transformation in the local context.

Very good results on these three items will give the grade 5 (Chalmers grades).

Good results on these items will give the grade 4 (Chalmers grades).

Sufficient results on these items will give the grade 3 (Chalmers grades).

Grades 1 or 2 will not be given. A not sufficient result will lead to requirements on complementary work to reach a 3 grade level.

For the individual grades we will also take in account the activity of the student during Part A and Part B concerning the role in the class and work groups and proven ability to take responsibility and leadership, and give constructive critique to fellow students. This means that an individual student can get a higher final grade than the in-depth project as such.

 

Contact Details

Examiner

Nils Björling, architect, Phd, senior lecturer urban planning and design

Phone: 0733-86 49 10, email: nils.bjorling@chalmers.se

 

Teaching team

Ida Röstlund, architect, artistic lecturer

Phone: 0732-50 15 88, email: idaro@chalmers.se

 

John Helmfridsson, architect

Email: Johnhelmfrid@gmail.com

 

Åsa Setterby Modeus, landscape architect

Email: asa.setterbymodeus@mareldlandskap.se

 

And invited guests

 

Website

On this site you can find more information about the course and also see examples of student work from previous years. https://chalmerslocalcontext.wordpress.com/ (Links to an external site.)