20.312 Social Architecture: Theory and Practice
This course aims to equip the students with theoretical/historical knowledge of 鈥楽ocial Architecture鈥 as well as practical skills for practicing it. Students will be exposed to key concepts, methods and goals developed in social architecture, an umbrella term that includes community architecture and planning, community design, social design, democratic design, community development, etc. which share a common approach of environmental design that encourages social behaviours leading towards certain public benefits, such as liveability, safety, and sustainability. Through case studies, fieldworks and hands-on workshops, students will learn the various design processes that often involve the members of community, and how these strategies could be applied in their own design projects. The first half of the course will introduce students to theories and methods; while the second half will explore various topics under which social architecture is currently being practiced.
Learning objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Recognize聽key design theories聽that associate physical environment with social behaviours and explain their significance in practice.
- Identify and apply聽appropriate methods and/or techniques聽in formulating strategies for asset mapping, predictive analysis, and community design development.
- Develop聽hands-on capabilities聽in the planning, organization, and facilitation of participatory workshop.
Measurable outcomes
- Develop a concise statement of social issue and investigation brief in relation to M.Arch./Capstone design project.
- Critically assess previous projects in terms of聽strategies, methods and techniques聽through case studies.
- Develop and聽conduct community analysis and/or participatory design, documented through field notes.
- Develop and deliver a written report that summarizes the聽development of design project聽including evaluation of participatory process and聽how the design project could move forward.
Prerequisites
- Capstone program and taking the respective course during the same term.
Course instructor
Number of credits:听9
奥辞谤办濒辞补诲:听4-0-5*
*The first number represents the number of hours per week assigned for lectures, recitations and cohort classroom study. The second number represents the number of hours per week assigned for labs, design, or field work. The third number represents the number of hours per week assigned for independent study.