Urban Planning process

Is the city a form, or a process, or both? Are architects and urban designers responsible for the form and urban planners for the process part? How can these two, together with other parties cooperate to promote sustainable urban development and to resolve conflicting interests? Which skills, instruments and tools are needed? The aim of this course is to familiarize participants with the dimension of the urban planning process so that architects and urban designers understand their role and responsibilities in relation to other stakeholders. Based on a reflection of the legacy of architectural and planning professions and their paradigms the course will explore the potentials of architects and urban designers as part of a new urban planning approach that is integrated, inclusive and participatory and that follows principles such as compactness, social inclusion, integration and connected cities and neighbourhoods that are resilient to climate change. The class builds on the knowledge established in the introductory contemporary cities course (SSCI 101). It integrates research and practice and will explore lessons from relevant case studies from Egypt and beyond. Selected issues comprise: economic development, infrastructure and services, housing, environment, food security, historic preservation, regional development.