Outline

Overview

This unit is to introduce students to key concepts and basic principles in urban design through lectures and studio-based tutorials. By taking full advantage of the neighbourhoods around campus as our laboratory for urban design analysis and intervention, this unit will walk students through deep experiential, historical, and spatial study and engagement with Sydney as a place and urbanity. Through the critical interrogation of selected study areas, this unit will help students understand the urban environment where human beings operate physically, culturally and socially. The studio will engage students with critical thinking, collaborative work and constructive discussion, all of which will serve as the foundation on which the assessments will be based. Emerging out of a process of enquiry about the city, students will develop critical observation, visual documentation, map reading, systematic urban analysis, basic urban intervention, and visual, verbal and written communication skills. These skills will help students to participate with effectiveness in the urban design studios and integrated urbanism studio.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Urban and Regional Planning and Policy
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Ian Woodcock, ian.woodcock@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Portfolio or journal	A1 Journal Journal of engagement with W1-6 all unit lectures, readings, tutorial activities, fieldwork and workshop discussions	50%	Week 06 Due date: 11 Sep 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Nov 2026	Notes, diagrams, photos, sketches, maps	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	A2 Urban Design Analysis, SWOT, Scenarios, Vision Presentation of urban design analysis, SWOT, three future scenarios and vision for a potential Town Centre / TOD site (from approved list of railway stations or ferry wharves in metropolitan Sydney)	20%	Week 10 Due date: 14 Oct 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Nov 2026	20 minute slide show	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	A3 Urban Design Intervention Presentation of a proposed urban design intervention for the site used for A2	30%	Week 13 Due date: 04 Nov 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Nov 2026	5 minute slide show	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

W6: 11 September 23:59 A1 Journal (Individual-50%)

W10: 14 October 23:59 A2 Urban Design Analysis, SWOT, Scenarios, Vision (Group-20%)-Presented in class 15 October from 5pm.

W13: 4 November 23:59 A3 Urban Design Intervention (Individual-30%)-Presented in class 5 November from 5pm

Attendance: Students should be present and engaged in their learning during classes. Late arrival/early departure will be deemed as an absence. Students who do not meet the minimum 90% threshold, who have reasonable evidence to support their absence, may be offered the opportunity to sit an alternative assessment to pass this unit at the discretion of the unit coordinator.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.
Distinction	75 - 84	Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.
Credit	65 - 74	Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.
Pass	50 - 64	Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.
Fail	0 - 49	Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

10% per day

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	L1 Introduction; Course Structure; Assessments	Lecture (1 hr)
	L2 Country, Context, Character	Lecture (1 hr)
	T1 Class introductions; How did we get here? What is urban character? Select sites for W6; Groups for A2	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	L3 Access, Movement, Structure	Lecture (1 hr)
	L4 Mixed Uses & Spatial Types	Lecture (1 hr)
	T2 Discuss Readings 1-4; City Image mapping exercises	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	L5 Densities, Intensities, Public Life	Lecture (1 hr)
	L6 Observation & Mapping	Lecture (1 hr)
	T3 Discuss Readings 5-7; Urban Design drawing exercises	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	L7 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion	Lecture (1 hr)
	L8 Sustainability 1: TOD, X-Minute Urbanism	Lecture (1 hr)
	T4 Discuss Readings 7-8; Urban Design Drawing exercises	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	L9 Urban Flourishing	Lecture (1 hr)
	T5.1 Discuss readings 10-12	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Studio: Review UD fieldwork progress for W6 Workshop; Review progress with A2	Practical (2 hr)
Week 06	Workshop with individual Urban Design Fieldwork presentations on topics from from Weeks 2-5.	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 06	Class discussion: What can we learn from individual fieldwork presentations about core topics from W1-5?	Practical (2 hr)
Week 07	L10 Studio Project (A2 & A3) Introduction	Lecture (1 hr)
	T8 A2.1 Site Selections presentations and discussions	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Studio: discuss data collection, site analysis, scenarios, SWOT, visions; Develop group workplan for A2.2	Practical (2 hr)
Week 08	L11 Urban Design Case Studies	Lecture (1 hr)
	W8 STUDIO activities for A2.2 Urban Design Analysis & SWOT	Tutorial (1 hr)
	W8 STUDIO activities for A2.2 Urban Design Analysis & SWOT	Practical (2 hr)
Week 09	L12 Urban Design Case Studies	Lecture (1 hr)
	W9 Studio Activities for A2.2 Urban Design Scenarios & Visions	Tutorial (1 hr)
	W9 Studio Activities for A2.2 Urban Design Scenarios & Visions	Practical (2 hr)
Week 10	In-class Group Presentations of A2.2 Urban Design Analysis, SWOT, Scenarions & Visions	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	In class presentations of A2.2 Site Analysis, SWOT, Scenarios & Visions	Practical (3 hr)
Week 11	L13 Urban Design Case Studies	Lecture (1 hr)
	W11 Studio Activities for A3 Urban Design Intervention; Precedents	Tutorial (1 hr)
	W11 Studio Activities for A3 Urban Design Intervention; Precedents	Practical (2 hr)
Week 12	W12 Studio Activities for A3 Urban Design Intervention	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	W12 Studio Activities for A3 Urban Design Intervention	Practical (3 hr)
Week 13	In-class presentations for A3 Urban Design Intervention	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	In-class presentations for A3 Urban Design Intervention	Practical (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: University of Sydney School of Architecture Design and Planning Faculty Resolutions 2022

Clause 8 (3) (a): Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for each unit of study, unless granted exemption

Students should arrive on time and ready to engage in classroom activities.

The Unit Coordinator will consider attendance with notice (if you are running late, you must notify your Unit Coordinator otherwise you may be marked absent).

https://policyregister.sydney.edu.au/doctract/documentportal/08DE2219FEF9F9588045F2E46B9ACB35

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Each student is required to read all readings listed below.

PDFs of all readings will be made available on Canvas by commencement of Week 1.

1. GANSW, 2020 'Designing with Country', Government Architect New South Wales, pp.1-12

2. Dovey, K. & Pafka, E. (2020) "What is walkability? The urban DMA”, Urban Studies, 57(1) 97-108

3. Lynch, K (1996) “The City Image and its Elements”, in The City Reader, London, Routledge, pp. 98-102 (originally published 1960)

4. Ellis, C.W. (1986) “The Spatial Structure of Streets”, in Anderson, S. (Ed) On Streets, Cambridge, MA/London: The MIT Press, pp.113-132

5. Gehl, J. (2011 [orig.1987]) Life Between Buildings, New York: Island Press, pp.129-162

6. Whyte, W.H. (1980) The Social Life of Small Urban Places (film)

7. Biddulph, M. (2024) "Ch.5.3 Post-occupancy evaluation", in Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. & Peimani, N. (Eds) The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods, pp.439-450

8. Buliang, R. (2024) "15-minute cities, 'walkability' and last millimeter problems", Disability & Society, DOI:10.1080/09687599.2024.2385919

9. Mehta, V. (2024) "Ch.2.3 Exploring streets as places for social exchange", in Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. & Peimani, N. (Eds) The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods, pp.135-149

10. Hall, S. & Datta, A. (2010) “The Translocal Street: Shop signs and local multi-culture along the Walworth Rd, south London”, City, Culture and Society, Vol.1, No.2, pp.69-77

11. Massey, D. (1994) “A Global Sense of Place”, Marxism Today, June 1991, pp.24-29

12. Pafka, E. & Peimani, N. (2019) "Multi-scalar mapping of Transit-Oriented Assemblages: Metropolitan Mobilities, Neighbourhood Morphologies and Station Design", in Geddes, I., Charalambous, N. and Camiz, A. (Eds) Cities as Assemblages, Vol.3, Tab Edizioni, Rome, pp.415-425

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. understand the role of group work in developing comprehensive, synthesised approaches to urban design
LO2. explain common urban design terms, including context, public domain, street, subdivision patterns, lot, block, building typology, mixed-use, activation, walkability, scale, city, town centre and design process
LO3. demonstrate an understanding of building types and explain mixed-use building types
LO4. describe and evaluate public domain elements
LO5. use mapping to define urban elements and create evidence based urban design analysis
LO6. use urban design analysis to define and evaluate urban character and quality
LO7. demonstrate the role of comparative analysis and the use of good precedents in defining and explaining urban design
LO8. use a combination of written, verbal and visual communication techniques, to explain urban design concepts, elements and principles.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Adjustments to content to reduce overall workload and provide a stronger focus on design process: reduce fieldwork presentations from weekly to one 4h workshop; revise selection of weekly fieldwork sites to make them easier to get to and more relevant to topics; remove requirement for report submissions to focus on slide show presentations for the design project; change balance of group and individual work to 20/80

Additional information

Urban design requires a diverse suite of skills including observation, spatial thinking and imagination as well as verbal, visual and other logical and intuitive powers of reasoning. There are multiple modes of learning involved. This unit will work best by consistent engagement with all of the learning activities – lectures, readings, discussions, weekly fieldwork, groupwork, desk-based progress reviews (aka 'desk crits'), individual and group oral presentations, independent acquisition of software skills, and regular documentation in the participation journal with notes, sketches and annotated photos

Additional costs

Some costs may be incurred in the purchase of measure and drawing materials (e.g., measuring tape, trace paper, markers, coloured pencils and highlighters, scale rulers) and public transport for fieldwork.

Site visit guidelines

Wear appropriate footwear and clothing; always carry student ID; treat all people, animals, vegetation and built form with respect and courtesy; pay attention to directional and regulatory signage; refrain from making site visits in bad weather and when visibility is poor; always carry drinking water with you. Plan ahead, don't take un-necessary risks, use active and public transport wherever possible, you need to be able to look around you. Carry a notebook and writing implement at all times. Turn your headphones off, keep your ears and eyes open. Put your smartphone away except for taking photos or videos, you will need the full suite of five senses and spatial awareness to get the most out of field observations and the journeys involved as ways of learning about urbanism.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

ARCH9100: Urban Design Foundations Studio

Semester 2, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links