PGAR
5513

Theories of Urban Form

Parsons School of Design: School of Constructed Env.

Liberal Arts
Undergraduate Course
Graduate Course
Degree Students (with Restrictions)
Theories of Urban Form
Fall 2024
Taught By: Brian McGrath
Section: A

CRN: 2988

Credits: 3

Theory of Urban Form examines the various ways architects have theorized their role in relation to the design of cities over the past four decades. The period of time covered, from the 1970’s to the present, comprises an era of radical transformation in architecture, urban form and daily life. It comprises the emergence of digital technologies, the end of the Cold War, neo-liberal globalization, and its recent collapse. Additionally we have seen an awakening of environmental consciousness as well as the emergence of a multiplicity of diverse urban subjectivities around civil rights struggles around race, gender, ethnicity and sexuality. While we will focus on the last forty years, contemporary theories will be examined in relation to intellectual genealogies and historical examples and practices reaching deeper into the past. A key theme will be examining the tension between how the city is made through collective architectural expressions, and how individual buildings are informed by the architecture of the city itself. Therefore, transitions in urban form will be examined through the change in discourse both in written architectural theories and representations, but also on how these forms of material construction establish a specific metabolism of the city based on social, food, energy and water systems, and ultimately changes the role of the architect in shaping urban form.

Open to: Masters Degree in Architecture Majors and Masters Degree in Architecture and Lighing Design Dual Degree Majors Only; Others by permission.

College: Parsons School of Design (PS)

Department: School of Constructed Env. (SCE)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Seminar (R)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 25

Add/Drop Deadline: September 9, 2024 (Monday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: November 17, 2024 (Sunday)

Seats Available: Yes

Status: Open*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 12:00am EDT 4/20/2024

Meeting Info:
Days: Tuesday
Times: 9:00am - 11:40am
Building: TBD
Room: TBD
Date Range: 8/27/2024 - 12/3/2024