Course syllabus

Course-PM

ACE555 Key projects for sustainable development in a local context lp2 HT24 (15 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

 

Contact details

Examiner

Nils Björling, architect, PhD, Senior lecturer in urban design and planning

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

 

Teaching team

Maja Hjertén Knutsson, Architect, Artistic lecturer, Phone: 0701-49 52 00, email: maja.hjerten@chalmers.se

John Helmfridsson, Architect, Artistic lecturer, Phone: 0708-25 09 26 Email: helmfrij@chalmers.se

Liv Sonntag, Landscape architect, Phone: 0769-41 88 11, Email: liv@livsonntag.se

 

And invited guests: The design studio will include lectures by researchers and workshops and presentations with practitioners.

 

Course purpose

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.

Planning for sustainable development demands a holistic approach and integrated solutions. Every task, proposal and measure must 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, international – 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.

The aim of this course, which is a design studio, is to develop spatial interventions that can catalyse the potential of sustainable development in a local context. We use the concept of Key projects as a methodological tool to develop strategies and tactics for local development. The key part of the concept focuses on the capacity to open up a transformational process, but also the need for site-specific understanding. The course addresses the projective capacity where the architectural project is a tool to assemble relevant knowledge, resources, skills, and decision mandate.

In the course we increase the knowledge and understanding of the planning and development problems as well as the possibilities of a specific local situation and its regional context in the perspective of sustainable development. This implies to critically discuss and re-value spatial hierarchies, norms, and visions of sustainable development. The key projects will be used to train the ability to describe, analyse and interpret a local situation in relation to its broader context and potential futures. The outcomes are spatial interventions, strategies, and tactics with the ambition to reduce societal impact on the environment and make possible for a more just distribution of resources.

 

Schedule

Schedule is available in the calendar on Canvas (ACE555)

 

Course literature

The design studio Key Projects for Sustainable Development in a Local context includes course literature according to the PM – Litterature seminar and course Litterature. Each student will be asked to read one book on the list of books for the literature seminar. Furthermore, we encourage you to look through the literature list and choose texts related to your specific interests. The course literature is chosen to give knowledge and insight into questions concerning mainly urban-rural planning, local transformation and design for sustainable development.

The literature is meant to serve as a source of knowledge and inspiration in your work during the design studio and to be used as an integrated source of input and support. In the presentations of the different parts of the course assignment it is required to use literature references. We suggest the use of APA-reference system.

The literature for the literature seminar will be available in the studio library. The other literature is available through the Chalmers Library. Some books we recommend you to buy. The reading of the literature is supposed to take place troughout the design studio according to your own planning. 

 

Course design

The full-time design course includes on site activities based on a specific local situation in Sweden in close cooperation with local and regional authorities, and other local actors. The assignments will be carried out in groups and individually. The work on the course assignments will be supported by field studies, lectures, literature, and seminars.

The course design is organized around three steps where assignments, lectures and workshops will guide the learning process:

In the first step the students map and analyse the local situation, the context, and different possible futures. The outcome is potential key projects, specific spatial interventions that can open or lock the transformation of the local context. The key projects are also used to map and analyse available resources, skills and decision mandates and assemble relevant contexts.

In the second step the students develop their key projects to show how the current situation can be developed in a sustainable direction, either individually or in smaller groups.

In the third step the students assess and reflect on the broader impact of the developed key projects and critically discuss how the key projects can handle current spatial lock-ins.

 

Changes made since the last occasion

Two assignments have been added: Reference projects and literature seminar.

 

Learning objectives and syllabus

Learning objectives:

Knowledge and understanding

• Describe and discuss how urban norms and city-centred planning influence planning and design for local and regional sustainable development.
• Describe and critically discuss spatial consequences and political aspects of urbanization in relation to sustainable development of a local situation and its regional context.

Competence and skills

• Use key projects for the inventory and analysis of the systemic aspects of the built environment in a local situation and its regional context.
• Critically search for information and assess the quality of different sources of information.
• Design and critically assess the key projects, strategies and design for local and regional sustainable development based on the impact of different actors and planning levels.
• Motivate the developed design with reference to scientific, or experience-based, knowledge and value-based arguments.
• Visualize and communicate the developed design and design process for clients, stakeholders and experts.

Judgement and approach

• Combine knowledge from urban, rural, and regional planning and design in proposals for actions and measures in design for sustainable development.
• Combine scientific and artistic approaches in the mapping and design process.
• Critically reflect on the professional role, practice, and the need for a life-long learning.

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

https://www.chalmers.se/en/education/your-studies/find-course-and-programme-syllabi/course-syllabus/ACE555/?acYear=2024/2025

 

Examination form

To pass the design studio the following is required:

• Attendance and active participation at lectures, seminars, presentations, and cross-critics.
• Delivery of course assignments fulfilling the requirements regarding content and presentation of the assignments respectively.

 

Grading

TH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

To pass the course the following is required:

• Attendance and active participation at lectures, seminars, presentations, and cross-critics.
• Delivery of course assignments fulfilling the requirements regarding content and presentation of the assignments respectively.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.

 

Criteria for grades of 3, 4 and 5

What will we take in consideration?

• The logic relation between the key project idea and the overall aim to support sustainable development locally, based on the findings and conclusions from the assignments in step 1.
• 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 key 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).

For the individual grades on the course we will take in account the activity of the student 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 key project as such.