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MA/PgDip/PgCert
Urban Planning Design

Location
Southwark

Duration
MA
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Other awards variable

Start date
September and February

Number of places
10

Simple timetable info
2 days per week full-time
1 day per week part-time

How to apply
Direct to LSBU

LSBU codes
Full-time 3742
Part-time 3743

Course contacts
Dr Bob Jarvis
jarvisb@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 7353

Non-standard entry requirements
Applicants with RTPI accredited postgraduate awards may seek APL exemptions for some units. Applications are also welcomed from those without the required qualifications who possess the life/work skills that would make them suitable to study at this level.

Course units
The Background to Urban Design and Planning

– The Making of Place*

– Evolution of Spatial Planning*

– Practice-based Project Project Work

– Urban Design Project 1 - Practice

– Urban Design Project 2 - Theory

– Place Performance and Social Usage

– EUFSV Design - Field trip (currently) based project in Venice

Research

– Research Methods*

– Design-based dissertation (4 units)

* Exemption from these units is possible for students who meet ‘Accreditation of Prior Learning’ requirements.


Course description

Government advises that good planning and good design are inseparable. This course focuses on urban design as a part of town planning, and you will study alongside postgraduate town planning students. Its standpoint for urban design emphasises the continuing nature of planning responsibilities (as opposed to the contractual nature of most design professions) and on the everyday use of places and spaces.

Initial units cover the wider context of, and the evolution of, ideas of urban design. The core of the course is project work on sites where there are current urban design issues, and we have links with the planning authority or a ‘client’ –we have worked on the hinterland of Bankside, Great Yarmouth Sea Front, and Central Hackney .

The Field Trip unit (a compulsory part of the MA and PgDip) prepares students for work in unfamiliar places – and who could study urban design without visiting Venice?

Place Performance and Social Usage focuses on the ‘soft city’ of peoples routines and the ‘sidewalk ballets’ (Jane Jacobs’ phrase) of life, and is linked to ongoing research on ‘the choreography of everyday life’.

The dissertation is a research-based urban design project - but we think of design in terms of Chris Jones’ ‘bringing about change in the man-made world’, and Koberg and Bagnall’s ‘design is a process of making dreams come true’.

Career opportunities

Graduates have used urban design on the planning courses at South Bank to focus on the relationship between planning and design, and several now hold key posts in urban design in private consultancy or public authorities –from advising a former soviet republic on design issues to dealing with the Kings Cross area.

Typical background of applicant

Either from planning (graduates who want to refocus or refresh their specialist skills and knowledge) or from other built environment professions who want to branch out into the all encompassing area of urban design but do not want, or already have, the ‘shape shifting’ skills of architectural design.

Professional contacts/industry links

The project work for the course is closely integrated with current issues and problems and each year a new site is chosen and new contacts made, visits undertaken and visiting speakers address the students.

Recent guest lecturers

Rob Cowan – Urban Design Group Various speakers from CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) Struan Leslie – Choreographer and Movement Director (RSC, Casanova, Welsh National Opera)