URP 529, Section 1

This course offers a global study of the physical form of cities from ancient times to the present. Together we will survey the history of urban formations—the spaces and structures, among other elements, that form and transform the built environment. Thematic in approach, this examination of urban form and the processes of its transformation will provide students with an understanding of the intertwined historical forces—social, political, cultural, economic, environmental—that shape and are shaped by cities. We will draw on a selection of primary texts and visual culture as part of our investigation. By interrogating the layered intentions, uses, and implications of urban form over time and across the globe, the course aims to foster criticality in students’ own work as designers, planners, and thinkers about urban space. How can the histories of urban form help us confront the cities of the present and future?