
MUD Curriculum 2021
1st Year
Semester 1
ARPL7010A Understanding Cities of the South, 20 credits
ARPL7011A Urban Design Theory and History, 20 credits
ARPL 7059A Accessible City Studio, 10 credits
Semester 2
ARPL7057A Urban Design Professional Practice, 10 credits
ARPL7061A Transforming City Studio, 10 credits
ARPL7058A Global City Studio, 10 credits
2nd Year
ARPL7040A Research Methods, 10 credits
ARPL7062A Urban Design and Studio Course, 90 credits
ARPL7010A Understanding Cities of the South, 20 credits
This course is aimed at understanding the many forces that shape cities of the South. These include development processes (legal, formal and informal economic), governance issues, environmental issues, transport, land use, infrastructure, services, power and politics (macro economics, structural adjustment, questions of sovereignty, gender, poverty, and inequality), as well as the discourses of modernity, globalisation and post-colonialism.
This course further explores the main dynamics and processes that shape cities in the contemporary era and key challenges experienced. It considers the major international development agendas for urban development, and their implications for urban planning. The evolution of approaches to urban development planning is discussed and contemporary approaches are evaluated. The course includes a study of both international literature and literature with a focus on the South African urban context.
ARPL 7011 Urban Design Theory and History
Cities have been compared to slow growing organisms, ordered in such a way that growth and change can be accommodated over time. This course aims to introduce students to principles of city structure that accommodate change and flexibility. These principles are implicit in South African cities but can only be recognised and uncovered through analysis of how cities evolve and change in the course of time. Students learn to trace the consequences of urban decisions: some remaining visible and others of which no trace remains. The course includes the study of international cities, also with structuring principles that have withstood change.
Throughout the course, the following theoretical aspects of city making throughout history will be considered:
- History of urban form
- Basic principles in urban design
- Urban Morphology – the patterns of change over time and the forces that create such change
- Spatial relationships in the built environment
- Processes and methodologies in urban design
- Urban networks (including movement systems, infrastructure, and experiential networks)
- The role of the natural environment and local context on city making
- Changes and adaptations of cities.
ARPL 7059A Accessible City Studio, ARPL7061A Transforming City Studio, ARPL7058A Global City Studio, 30 credits/ 10 per studio
The studios adopt the position that space-making is a political act. The design of space, especially in emerging democracies such as South Africa, is premised with political agendas. These agendas can range from progressive and utopian, to repressive and unjust. It is our obligation to be mindful of the relationship between space and political agendas. The studios will aim to explore ways in which critical thinking and considered design can facilitate particular political positions.
ARPL7062A Urban Design and Studio Course, 90 credits
The urban design research report represents the culmination of the competencies gained during the Master of Urban Design programme. The primary aim of the course is to facilitate the production of a self-motivated urban design research report, integrating theory, research, design, technology, analysis, representational skills, and proposed implementation.
An urban design research report is more than a major studio project. It is required that each student put forward and investigate a personal position about urban design and the built environment, and to do so through solid research and analysis, written text and an urban design proposal.
The theoretical discourse or enquiry, which is articulated in the proposal and developed throughout the year, is expected to result in a spatial design strategy. Based on this strategy, and an evaluation process of the enquiry, a proposed spatial design for a chosen site is to be developed. The outcome of this design process is therefore a response to the evaluation of the enquiry and its related findings. In that sense, theory and spatial design are an integrated and iterative process.
The research report is an opportunity for each student to enquire into and focus on a chosen aspect of urban design. The writing of the research report provides a stimulus for the exploration of ideas and critical issues, deemed important by the student.
With this in mind, all candidates are advised to take a longer-term view, while preparing their research report. The preparation should not merely fulfil the immediate course requirements. Rather, it should be structured by each individual in such a way that it supports the quest for life-long learning.
ARPL7040A Research Methods
This course is an essential guideline for students to establish a methodology towards a research topic. Students are assisted in developing a research proposal and provided with an understanding of the various proposal components. This course also assists with the establishment of a relevant research question and position statement. Students are directed to relevant precedents and case studies to allow for comparative research. Applying design thinking to real-world research forms a critical component of the research methodology and the eventual compilation of an MUD Research Proposal.