2026Year

First Semester

Theory of Urban Design

Lecture

Theory of Urban Design

Z2000005 Theory of Urban Design

ENDO Arata

2.0Credits

Tue.2Period

Shinjuku Campus

A-0656教室

A) A high degree of specialized expertise　100%
B) The skills to use science and technology　0%
C) The ability to conduct research independently, knowledge pertaining to society and occupations, and sense of ethics required of engineers and researchers　0%
D) Creative skills in specific areas of specialization　0%

・To understand the fundamental perspectives and principles of contemporary urban design, as well as its specific methods and key points, and to provide an opportunity to consider how urban design should evolve in the future.
・To provide an opportunity to reflect on the future direction of cities and urban design while also understanding the economic and functional aspects characteristic of private-sector projects.
・Rather than learning passively, students will develop an active approach to learning through proactive engagement and participation in course activities.

・Students are expected to have completed undergraduate-level courses in urban planning and urban design.
・This course is demanding. It includes numerous field surveys and multiple report submissions.

Discussion Debate／Group Work／Presentation／Practice Fieldwork

Course Structure
・Classes will be conducted in person. Depending on circumstances, online sessions (via Zoom) may be incorporated.
・The course is organized around four themes related to urban design. Students will deepen their understanding through engagement with four corresponding assignments.
・If enrollment is small, field surveys may be conducted within Tokyo.

Introduction
Week 1: Guidance
・Explanation of course structure and procedures
・Assignment of presentation roles and responsibilities

Theme 1: Main Streets in the City (Individual Assignment)
Weeks 2–4
・Students will analyze the characteristics of “main streets,” the principal spaces of cities, from multiple perspectives. Through this analysis, they will examine the significance of main streets within urban contexts and explore their potential as subjects of planning and design.
・Target Area: Cities around the world

Theme 2: Design Connecting Urban Spaces (Group Assignment)
Weeks 5–7
・Students will identify issues arising from fragmentation within urban districts and consider strategies to resolve them by creating “connections.” Through this process, they will examine the significance of urban design in fostering spatial continuity within the city.
・Target Area: Existing urban districts in central Tokyo

Theme 3: Master Planning for Large-Scale Redevelopment (Individual Assignment)
Weeks 8–10
・Through the representational format of the master plan, students will explore approaches to reorganizing declining or deteriorated urban areas. The theme aims to deepen understanding of master plan–oriented urban design.
・Target Area: Large-scale redevelopment areas in overseas cities

Theme 4: Evaluating Urban Regeneration through Large Block Redevelopment (Group Assignment)
Weeks 11–13
・Contemporary redevelopment in Japan continues to trend toward large-scale projects. From the critical perspective of whether redevelopment through the reorganization and consolidation of existing urban blocks (large-block redevelopment) truly creates better and more vibrant cities, students will examine and evaluate case studies of such projects.
・Target Area: Large-scale redevelopment blocks in central Tokyo

Conclusion
Week 14: Submission of Reflection Report (On-Demand)

Presentations during class time and the submission of reports are required conditions for earning course credit.

Feedback and critiques on the submitted and presented reports will be provided during class time.

ISBN: 978-4395321100

・Peter Calthorpe (1993), “The Next American Metropolis”
・Reid Ewing, Keith Bartholomew, and Arthur C. Nelson (2011), “Compactness vs. Sprawl”
・Stephen M. Wheeler (2002), “Infill Development”
・Jan Gehl (1980), “Outdoor Space and Outdoor Activities”
・Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow (2004), “Stabilization Wedges: Solving the Climate Problem for the Next 50 Years with Current Technologies”
・Harriet Bulkeley, Vanesa Castan Broto, and Gareth Edwards (2012), “Towards Low Carbon Urbanism”
・William Solecki, Cynthia Rosenzweig, Stepen Hammer, and Shangun Mehorta (2013), “The Urbanization of Climate Change: Responding to a New Global Change”
・Timothy Beatley (2011), “Biophili Cities”
・Frederick Steiner (2011), “Landscape Ecological Urbanism”
・Dolores Hyden (2002), “Domesticating Urban Space”
・Janice E. Perlman with Molly O’Meara Sheehan (2007), “Fighting Poverty and Environmental Injustice in Cities”

It will be presented during class hours in case of necessary.

Tuesday 6th period, A2673 rooms.
Students who wish to meet other time, please contact me: arata@cc.kogakuin.ac.jp

Key points for reading English-language literature on urban design include understanding the background and objectives of the theory in question; how it conceptualizes its subject matter (such as the city or urban space); its perspective as urban design; the central arguments of the theory; and the cases or phenomena that serve as its foundations.
Attempting to look up every individual word during preparation makes it difficult to grasp the overall meaning. If you firmly identify the subject and verb and understand the grammatical structure, there is no need to be overly concerned with minor details. What matters most is comprehension of the main argument. The same approach should be applied when reading Japanese-language literature.

Applicable

A faculty member with experience as a Urban Design Advisor will provide lectures and research supervision on urban design, drawing on expertise gained through pre-application consultations for urban design review.

Architecture Program