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Course Prescription

Examines the role of public urban space in the city and how history, geography, culture, physical connections and architectural form contribute to its formation. Explores how contemporary cities are transforming their urban environments through design.

Course Overview

2025 ARCHGEN 733: Semester 1, weeks 1-11 SHAPING THE CITY –Shaping Cities:  Urban Form and Public Space
Tutor: Julie Stout Architect and Urbanist, Distinguished Fellow NZIA https://www.mitchellstoutdodd.co.nz/latest
Shaping the City - Urban Form and Public Space seminar course looks at cities, locally and globally, and investigates urban form from a wide perspective; how cities have been shaped by geography, social history and cultural perspectives through historical time. We will discuss how different cultures perceive space and have created different types of cities and public spaces over the ages.  The role of public space and the role of the urban designer is covered in lectures by visiting professionals and also in class seminars.  Along the way we will examine how to draw and analyse urban public space.
The course is divided into two parts.

  • PART 1: In a 3 hour lecture and workshop format, the course starts with an introduction to how cities are formed historically to contemporary planning (urban design) and lived in (urbanism). We then use Auckland as a case study and discuss how we as urbanists and urban designers,  learn to 'read and see' urban form and draw it in plan and section.  We will undertake a walking tour of central Auckland and you will do drawing exercises to develop your skills, which you submit as Assignment one. 
  • PART 2: The course focus shifts to various cities of the world. Using the tools learnt in the first half, students will select a city of the world to study from a macro-scale; the influences of history, geography, cultural and physical connections on the urban and architectural form of the city. Then the students will analyse an important public space within that urban form from the point of view of how it has been designed to fulfil the function it has in the city.  This is presented to the class as a 20 minute pecha-kucha powerpoint.  After feedback, you will then develop this information into a 3000 word illustrated essay as Assignment 2.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 8 hours of lectures, a 32 hours tutorials/presentations, 40 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 70 hours of work on assignments and  presentation preparation.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Restriction

Advice on Course Limits

This is a limited entry course: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. In cases where the courses is taught under two separate codes (e.g. concurrently taught courses, general education courses) the course limit specified is the total across both versions of the course. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

The course is in a 3 hour workshop format, generally with a lecture at front, then workshops and discussion on urban design drawing, mapping, and research. 
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including workshops will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as 3 hour module weekly  for the ten weeks timetabled. 

Teaching and Learning Methods

Lectures, by tutor and invited guests, followed by drawing workshops.A walking tour of the City.
Presentations by students followed by discussion and feedback

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

Library Recommended reading Book list will be available on Canvas.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

There is a walking and drawing tour of the central city, from Albert Park to Aotea Square and through the laneways to Britomart and Komititanga Plaza. Students need to be ambulatory, shoed correctly  and bring required sun protection. 

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

Because the focus of this course is to help the student learn to 'read' the city and how to analyse  built form, emphasis is put on discussion and workshops. Active participation is encouraged to maximise learning.  

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Additional Information on Assessment

Pass requirements: Participating in the class presentations and submitting the Assignments  is compulsory. Not submitting  will lead to a DNC in your academic record and to the automatic failure of this course. 

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type1234567

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

The drawing component of the course has been well received by the students so I'm  reinforcing that this year. Also the lectures and discussion with outside professionals have been very insightful for students. 

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Additonal Information on Special Circumstances

Requests for extensions of time must be submitted and approved using the online Extension of Time Application form available on Canvas. Students should notify the Course Director/Course Coordinator of their situation as soon as practicable, and preferably before any due date. Notifications by students should include information about the unexpected circumstances and should attach evidence to support this if available. Notifications received after an assessment due date will be accepted, where this is reasonable, within the context of the course. If possible, students are encouraged to seek medical, counselling or other support from the most appropriate sources.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.