Cities by Design
Course Number: SES-5210
Semester: Fall 2021
Instructors: Peter Rowe, Rahul Mehrotra, Eve Blau, Joan Busquets, Farès el-Dahdah, Alex Krieger, Antoine Picon, Yun Fu
Cities by Design is concerned with the in-depth longitudinal examination of urban conditions in and among selected cities in the world. The broad aims are: to engage in a comparative study for the purpose of broadening definitions of what it is to be urban; to identify characteristics that render particular cities distinct; to understand the manner in which geography, locational circumstances, and related infrastructural improvements both constrain and promote opportunities for city development; and to gain insight into the role of human agencies, planning institutions, and design cultures in shaping cities and their role in broader regions. In Fall 2021, the cities under examination are Boston, Berlin, Paris, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, and Mumbai. Each will be the subject of three lectures, and a Q&A discussion session with the speaker. In addition to the city-specific lectures, broader comparative frameworks will be provided by two lectures on Metropolitan Spatial Dynamics and Historic Conservation.