Urban History, Preservation, and Architects

This unit surveys the evolution of cities and urban design from ancient to contemporary times, examines preservation and adaptive reuse practices, and introduces leading contemporary architects whose work shapes current practice. It builds on foundational drafting and architectural principles and prepares students to apply historical, cultural, and preservation considerations to design projects in the final unit.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze major historical urban forms and planning principles (ancient, medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Enlightenment, American grid, suburbanization, and modern/ postwar plans) and compare how cultural, technological, and political forces influenced their development.
• Evaluate preservation and adaptive reuse approaches by assessing at least three case studies and recommending interventions that balance historical integrity, sustainability, and community needs.
• Apply urban design and site-planning principles to create a conceptual redevelopment plan that integrates historical context, circulation, land use, and landscape considerations for a hypothetical site.
• Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary architects and their design approaches by critiquing selected works from at least four featured architects and explaining how their forms, materials, and strategies inform modern architectural practice.