Graduation studio 2020/21: Urban transformation & qualities of density

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Urban Fabrics is concerned with the design of the physical form of urban areas and the complex relationships between urban form and social processes. The Urban Fabric Research Group studies the relations between tangible and intangible structures in different contexts. Its aim is to foster a sustainable and liveable urban environment. You can find more information about how we work here.

The Urban Fabrics (UF) graduation studio focusses this year on the topic Urban Transformation and Qualities of Density of urban environments. The UF studio is design-oriented and is concerned with the typological and structural transformation of urban fabrics, considering multiple scales – from the building, the urban block, the street and the neighbourhood to the city. We explore transformations of urbanised areas that can accommodate an increasing need for dwellings, adapt neighbourhoods to climate change and enhance living quality. We investigate urban densification considering not only the quantitative but specifically the qualitative aspect of urban transformation.

The graduation projects are expected to draw from multi-scalar design-driven research and conclude with possible future evolutions of the city, urban transformations supporting adapting societal practices.

The Urban Fabrics studio comprises group work and individual work. The group work is putting comparisons between locations central, building up an atlas of urban transformations. Group work is embedded until P1, after P1 regular pin-up sessions provide a discussion platform and connect the students with the Urban Fabrics research group.

Qualities of density have multiple aspects. With this link you find the context description of the Main Urban Fabrics topic, and you can read more about the challenges we will tackle here: challenges. The studio is subdivided into three trajectories, each starting with a different angle, putting a different aspect central. The three themes are:

    • Mix to the Max? The quality of mixed-use territories and the relevance of diversity in urban configurations. Read more here: Mix to the Max
    • Density, community and the future of housing and public space. Read more here: Density and the future of housing
    • Cultural identity (History and Heritage Vector). Read more here: Cultural identity

     

Interested in who the mentors are? Have a look here.

Our weblog will up updated with more information during the next weeks.