Sushant School of Art and Architecture

Masters in Urban Design

Subject Name: URBAN DESIGN STUDIO I
Subject Code: 21MUD- IDS11P
Year and Semester: First year 1st semester (2021-22)
Name of Faculty – Nidhi Dandona
Contact Days / Hours – Monday (11 to 5 ) & Thursday (1pm to 5pm) ,
Tutorial Wednesday (9am- 1 pm )
Cerdits: 14

Faculty:
1. Mr.Varun Kaushik
2. Ms. Nidhi Batra
3. Visiting faculty Morphological Study
4. Mr. Varun Kaushik– tutorial + Ms. Manisha Balani - tutorial
5. Ms. Nidhi Dandona – Studio Director

Program Objectives- Urban Design Masters

 To develop an appreciation of the historical and theoretical dimensions of Urbanism in order to build the
competence and sensitivity necessary for the sustainable growth of our cities and survival of its heritage.
 To develop critical thinking in order to further refine the understanding & improve the analytical and
research skills.
 To explore the scope, opportunities, complexities and responsibilities of urban design and uncover the issues
and methodology for creating best practice response

Course Outcomes

The student will be able to

CO 1: Organize primary and secondary information in the form of documentation and analysis.

CO 2: Engage with social, environmental and economic factors of places to understand the experiential and
phenomenal aspect of cities.

CO 3: Synthesize material and demonstrate an understanding of the place.

CO 4: Assemble and formulate elementary design solutions for the area.

Aim of the studio:

The studio is an introduction to the realm of urban design and brings forth the complexities of the design process. It
creates an understanding of the role of various physical, social, economic and infrastructural components, decision
making processes and the contribution of related disciplines associated with the production of the city.
1. Data Collection and Analysis of a Brownfield Urban Development. (refer annexure for details)
 History and Evolution
 Ecology
 Morphology
 Open Space
 Movement and Infrastructure
 Demographics
 Human Geography
 Activity Patterns
 Typology
 Governance, Policy and Bye Laws

2. Structure Plan and Strategy: Transform issues and objectives into a unified vision for the area with a series of
strategies and an urban design framework.
 3. Detailed Design Proposal for the selected area.

Teaching Method :

We follow a ratio of 1:5 in the studio where in we discuss the exercises and design work in every class on a 1:1 basis.
Tools such as Power point presentations to show similar exercises , relevant readings , group discussions and case
studies through movies /short films , time problems , workshops for skill enhancement etc are constantly used .

Approach :

The first semester Masters Urban Design studio will engage with Gurgaon city , exploring and understating the full
range of contemporary neighbourhood conditions along with accepting the emerging urban issues in these district
they are located in.

All zones will have their own strong identities and will be interesting to study and document. Documentation and
interventions will be undertaken in groups to train the students to work in teams across an urban scale project.
Documentation also needs a critical analysis of the resources, study of history, bye laws, morphology, transport
connections, urban ecology, human networks and their activities, social infrastructure, built fabric, typology, grain and
texture. This will also be an exploration of urban design tools to represent and illustrate the same to give an overall
understanding of the urban place and the interdependence of the various resources. The studio also focuses on
urban infill developments, which result from the study. The studio also offers an interactive platform for the students
to work and acquire new skills to refine methods and formulate new strategies.

Structure Plan and Strategy : Transform issues and objectives into a unified vision for the area with a series of
strategies and an urban design framework. The first semester studio aims at developing urban design skills and a
knowledge base on contemporary urban issues requiring interventions.

Scheme of Evaluation
Intermediate Reviews by Internal Faculty : 50 Marks
End Term External Jury : 50 Marks
Mid Semester evaluation End Semester Total
evaluation

Internal 1 Internal 2 50 100

20 30

Mode of Mid Semester Evaluation for Design Studio/ Studio Project/ Thesis

Presentation Viva Report Attendance Total

20 20 5 5 50

Marking system: (Consult rubrics for clarity)

The focus of the studio will be on following learning outcome:

1. Knowledge - To learn conduct on –site surveys for gathering information to document an urban
precinct
2. Skills - To develop skills on urban design graphics and other related communication media.
3. Values, Orientations and Awareness (Evaluate )– -To learn quantitative and qualitative
techniques of study and diagnose built environment - To engage with experiential and
phenomenal aspect of cities.
 4. Design - Finally learn to convert & develop urban issues and prospects of the urban precincts into
projects and design schemes so as to synthesize and demonstrate sustained improvements for the
place.
5. To study and analyse comparable spatial precedents, best practices, etc as the given Urban design
precinct or ''aspect' which the students design is taken forward.

The studio will be run in two broad stages with well-defined objectives. The exercise will be conducted in
groups of 3 -4 students and interaction with faculty on a regular basis in the online studio mode .

Course outline and Deliverables:

Documentation and Diagnosis (6 week)

1 . Regional Study (2 Weeks) The objective of infrastructure study are to

document , evaluate and raise issues related to the following topics:
The urban precinct chosen for the study offer diverse urban form elements, urbanism, and pertinent urban
issues. The areas identified for regional study are :

1. Urban history and form

2. Planning framework and activity- Analysing existing urban design and town planning policy
3. Open space systems
4. Social and physical infrastructure and urban management
5. Movement systems

2. Morphological & Typology Study (2 Weeks)

The morphological study is aimed at learning to conduct on site survey , collect base information from
primary and secondary sources, develop urban design graphics and communication skills and raise urban
issues requiring interventions.
 Built form and its components
 Typology study
 Built Fabric – Grain & Texture
 Character zones, Functional districts & Transition areas

3. Neighbourhood study (1 Weeks)

The study on human landscape is meant to document human networks , explore social- spatial and
behavioural aspects of the chosen urban precincts . The purpose of this study is to unfold relationships
between urban space and human network to arrive at an agenda for interventions leading to value
additions in humanizing cities.
 Statistics base on human network-- activity analysis
 Human and community work
 Urban space and human activities
 Safety and other issues

A. Urban intervention (6 weeks ) Marks allotted -50

This is a concluding phase of the urban design studio and main aim here is to convert agendas for action
outlined in the study phase is turned into projects requiring urban design interventions. The interventions
are to be articulated into well defined project programme followed by pilot projects demonstrations
through concept design schemes using models and other presentation materials.
1. Vision and UD strategies
2. Project programming
3. Urban design schemes
4. Final presentation and intervention schemes
READING & RECORDING THE PLACE – Annexure1
1. HISTORY
a. Chronological Evolution
b. Structuring Events
c. Significance & Identity
2. ECOLOGY
a. Topography, Drainage, Landscape
b. Climate, Flora & Fauna
c. Open Space Systems & Types
3. MORPHOLOGY
a. Built Fabric – Grain & Texture
b. Land use, Built use, Built heights
c. Image giving Structures, Places of
Reference, Vantage Points
d. Historic precincts and Heritage
structures
e. Character zones, Functional districts,
Transition areas
f. Building Types
4. OPEN SPACE
a. Streets & Spaces
i. Type, Function, Usage
ii. Zoning – Public/ Private Realm
iii. Trees/ Furniture/ Informal Activities
iv. Edge Conditions
• Facades – Entrances, Projections,
Fenestrations & Architectural Styles
• Setbacks/ Green Belts
• Boundary Treatments
v. Overhead Metro-Lines/ Flyovers/
Subways/ Walkovers
vi. Special Social Spaces – Festival, Ritual,
Processions
5. MOVEMENT SYSTEMS
a. Linkages – Inter & Intra City
b. Transit Systems
c. Circulation Types
i. Vehicular
ii. Pedestrian
d. Road Hierarchy - Spatial
e. Traffic Intensity - Temporal
f. Transport Modes
g. Para Transit Networks
h. Transport Nodes and Terminals
i. Parking Areas & Numbers
j. Important & Popular Routes
a. Landownership Patterns & Property
Pricing
b. Distribution & Network
c. Community – relationship to areas of
work, live, play
8. ACTIVITY
a. Built Usage
i. Functional Usage
• Horizontal
• Vertical
ii. Public & Private Domain
iii. Built-Open Interface
b. Street/ Space Usage
i. Enclosure Quality
ii. Activity Type
iii. Activity Pattern - Nature, Distribution,
Intensity
• Spatial
• Temporal
9. TYPOLOGY
a. Plot Location, Immediate Context
b. Built Type – Plan, Section, Elevation
c. Building Plan & Section – Functional &
Formal Relationship
d. Unit Area, Cluster Area, Overall
Density
e. Building Section, Elevation -
Relationship with Street
10. INFRASTRUCTURE
a. Physical – Demand & Supply
i. Water Supply - Source, Storage &
Distribution
ii. Sewage - Drainage, Collection &
Treatment
iii.Storm Water Drainage – Runoff &
Recharge
iv. Solid Waste - Disposal & Management
v. Electricity - Source, Step Down &
Distribution
vi. Communication (Cabled/Wireless) -
Source & Distribution
vii. Gas - Source & Distribution
b. Social – Demand & Supply
i. Type - Health, Education, Recreation,
Entertainment, Religious, Security
ii. Distribution pattern / Ward wise
numbers

6. DEMOGRAPHICS 11. GOVERNANCE

a. Population Density a. Constituency - Elected Political Party
b. Gender Ratio b. Administrative District, Municipal
c. Age Group Ward Limits
d. Economic Status c. Councilors – Role and Delivery
e. Religious Profile
12. POLICY & BYE LAWS
7. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY d. Zonal Guidelines
e. Building Regulation
Weekly schedule :

No Dates Task
Week 1 27 Character plan of the site
Week 1 30 Character plan of the site
Week 2 4 October Introdction class- Regional Study Base plan start
Week 2 7 October Documentation and Diagnosis
Week 3 11 October Documentation and Diagnosis
Week 3 14 October finalReview - Regional l Study
Week 4 Dusheera break on 18th Base plan done - Morphological Study start
Week 4 21 October Morphological Study Review - Morphological Study Figure
ground , built use, landuse , open space etc done
Week 5 25 October Pre final - Morphological Study
Week 5 28 October FinalReview - Morphological Study
Week 6 1 diwali break Human landscape
Week 6 4 diwali break Human landscape
Week 7 8 November Final- Final submission for city and site study
Week 7 11 November Vision
Week8 15 November Vision
Week 8 18 November Urban intervention - Vision and UD strategies
Week 9 22 November Urban intervention - Vision and UD strategies
Week 9 25 November Urban intervention - Project programming
Week 10 29 November Urban intervention - Project programming
Week 10 2 December Urban intervention - Urban design schemes
Week11 6 December Urban intervention - Urban design schemes
Week11 9 December Urban intervention - Urban design framework
Week12 13 December Urban intervention - presentation and intervention schemes
Week12 16 December Urban intervention - presentation and intervention schemes
Week13 20 December Pre final
Week13 23 December Urban intervention - final review - Internal

Summative Assessment Components and Criteria

Assessment 1 Group Regional percent of Due week 2 Learning Outcomes
work Study total mark 1-3
20%
Assessment 2 Group Morphological percent of Due week 4 Learning Outcomes
work Study total mark 1-3
15%
Assessment 3 Group Human percent of Due week 5 Learning Outcomes
work landscape total mark 1-3
15%
Assessment 4 Group Urban Design percent of Due Week Learning outcomes
work Proposal total 12 4-6
Mark50%
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR MARKING

LEARNING Exemplary Developed Developing Satisfactory Unsatisfactory

OUTCOMES
To carry out primary Completeness of Good Data Data qualifies Data qualifies Data partially Lot of Data missing
and secondary Data acquired from both quantitatively qualifies
information reliable quantitatively but needs quantitatively
collection in the form sources and more quality and
of documentation, qualitatively information qualitatively
mapping, site analysis Key Findings & Thorough Some analysis Analysis Situation No Analysis – Data
etc. Analysis analysis with but without analyzed as it.
Strong Weak rationale through
Applies to regional, rationale rationale secondary
morphological and supported sources
Human landscape with bar charts
study and other
findings

To develop and draw Contextual Study Thorough Understanding Understandin Understanding No understanding of
references from the understanding of the g of the of the built the built fabric
existing built of the surrounding surroundingb fabric is weak
morphology/typology surrounding built fabric uilt fabric is
for the site given built fabric incomplete
To understand and Critical Thinking Thorough Understanding Understandin understanding No
evaluate the potential understanding of g of understanding of
and the of environmental of environmental environmental
environmental environmental issues and environmenta issues is weak. issues.
condition of the site issues and site conditions l issues
with respect to new site conditions and site
development. conditions
is
incomplete.
To develop a Conceptual Extreme Clarity in Less clarity of Concept is No concept present.
complete design Framework clarity in concept and concept and present but
proposal along with a Concept upon project the project is not clear.
structure plan for the which the manages to a unable to
area including project is develop develop with
principles of site developed. around it it.
planning, natural
features and Innovation High level of Good level of Moderate Attempt to No level of
environment, density /Creativity experimentati experimentati level of experiment experimentation
pattern and lessons on and on and experimentati but solution is
from tradition and solutions are solutions are on in the ordinary
present the same. unique. distinctive process but
solution is
unexciting
Program The program The program The program The program The program has
has been has been has been has been not been fulfilled.
fulfilled based fulfilled based partially fulfilled but
on good level on research, fulfilled but without any
of research, reflection and without research,
reflection and experimentati significant reflection and
experimentati on. research, experimentatio
on. reflection and n.
experimentati
on.
Appropriateness of Design is Design is Design is Design is not No clear attitude
design proposal clearly and responsive to fairly responsive towards context, or
convincingly site conditions responsive to to site site conditions in
responsive to site conditions the project.
site conditions conditions
 Attitude Attitude
Clear attitude towards Attitude towards
towards context towards context is not
context which present context clear
has influenced present but
critical design has not
decisions. influenced
the
development
of the project.
Use of Precedents Precedents Precedents Some Cut-and-paste Cut-and-paste
are extremely are precedents precedent precedent
relevant and relevant and are relevant studies with studies with no
the conclusions Conclusions little relevance to project
conclusions are applied drawn but relevance to No application
are applied not well project
applied Conclusions
not well
applied
Reception & Self Is open to and Is open to Is open to Is open to Is not open to input
Criticism seriously inputs from inputs from inputs from from the instructor,
considers the the instructor, the the instructor, reviews and fellow
inputs of reviews and instructor, reviews but is students and hence
instructors, fellow reviews and unable to does not apply the
reviews and students and fellow apply the same.
fellow takes students but same. Is unable Is unable to take
students ownership of needs to to take ownership of or
Takes and questions consider the ownership of question/challenge
ownership of own work to input more or own work.
and some extent seriously. question/chall
questions/chal Takes enge own
lenges own ownership of work.
work. but hesitates
to
question/chal
lenge own
work.
Completeness The drawings, The drawings, The drawings, The drawings, Critical drawings,
models and models and models and models and models or other
other other other other presentation
presentation presentation presentation presentation material is missing
materials are materials are material material are in order to
complete in all complete in communicate unable to communicate the
aspects and most aspects the basic thoroughly project intentions.
communicate and project communicate
the project communicate intentions. even basic
intentions the project project
extremely well intentions well intentions.

Plagiarism
What is Plagiarism?

The theft of ideas (such as the plots of narrative or dramatic works) or of written passages or works, where
these are passed off as one's own work without acknowledgement of their true origin; or a piece of writing
thus stolen. -- The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. 2008. Oxford University Press.

Common Forms of Plagiarism

• Copying directly from others without acknowledgement of the original source

• Using ideas or rephrasing text from without acknowledgement of the original source
• Using charts, tables, pictures or diagrams from others without referencing

• Reusing some parts of your previous work

• Submitting other people’s work as your own

How to avoid plagiarism?

• Use your own ideas.

• Paraphrase + give proper credit to the original source.

• Use quotation marks when using exact words from other authors + give proper credit to the original source.

• Organise and track your sources and materials

Recommended Text (Reference Book)

● Bentley, Alcock & Murrain (1985), Responsive Environments - A Manual for Designers, Architectural
Press; 1 edition
● Calvino I. (1972), Invisible Cities, Giulio Einaudi
● Garvin A. (1996), The American city, McGraw-Hill
● Gehl J. (2016), Life Between Buildings – Using Public Space, Island Press; Sixth edition
● Hall P. (2014), Cities of Tomorrow - An Intellectual History of Urban Planning and Design Since 1880,
Wiley-Blackwell; 4 edition
● Hollander J, Niall Kirkwood N. , Gold J. (2010), Principles of Brownfield Regeneration: Cleanup, Design,
and Reuse of Derelict Land, Island Press; Illustrated edition
● Lerner J. (2003), Urban Acupuncture, Island Press
● Lynch K. (1984), Good City Form, MIT Press, Cambridge
● Lynch K. (1960), The Image of the City, Harvard-MIT Joint Center for Urban Studies Series, MIT Press
● Marshall S. (2009), Cities Design and Evolution, Routledge
 The city reader by Richard T. Le Gates, Frederic Stout (
 Genius Loci Paperback – by Christian Norberg-Schulz
 The pattern language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series) ,
by Christopher Alexander
 The Death and Life of Great American Cities Paperback – 1 Dec 1992 by Jane Jacobs
 Concise Townscape Paperback –by Gordon Cullen
 The City in History: Its Origins, Its Transformations, and Its Prospects, by Lewis Mumford
 Kostof, Spiro, The City Assembled: The Elements of Urban Form Through History
 Kostof, Spiro, City Shaped: Urban Patterns and Meanings through History
 Emerging Concepts in Urban Space Design Professor Geoffrey Broadbent
 Collage City by Colin Rowe & Fred Koetter
 Data Flow by by Robert Klanten (Editor), N. Bourquin (Editor), S. Ehmann (Editor)
 Recombinant Urbanism by Graham Shane
 The Regional City Peter Calthorpe (Author), William Fulton (Author) by Island Press;
 Yes is More: An Archicomic on Architectural Evolution by Bjarke Ingels Group by BIG
 Urban Design by Alex Krieger (Editor), William S. Saunders (Editor)
 The Works: Anatomy of a City by Kate Ascherrs
 Urban transformation : Understanding city form and design by Peter Bosselmann
 JSTOR