Selected Topics in City and Regional Planning (BYG640)

The predominantly project-based course addresses a number of environmental, social and economic urban challenges. It seeks to understand how different planning solutions can support urban resilience by minimizing risks and threats, whilst providing a return to society.


Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

BYG640

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Spring

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Spring

Language of instruction

English

Content

The goal of the course will be to enable students to engage in thoughtful discussions and questions about resilience as a concept in urban planning. It will address empirical as well as practitioner-oriented questions about different planning interventions for resilient cities. Its core focus centers on assessing the different interventions and their positive and negative impacts in relation to spatial, temporal, cultural and societal sensitivities. Working individually and in groups in lecture and workshop settings (online unless otherwise stated), students will be exposed to theoretical and hypothetical issues that seek to balance the needs of users with the needs of the environment and the protection of society at large. The course gives students a unique opportunity to use a variety of research methods to identify and assess proportionate, holistic and cost-effective solutions based on classroom and fieldwork tasks. Students will also learn about the possibilities and limitations of emerging technologies and individually or in group develop a planning analysis or proposal for a selected site.

Learning outcome

After the course the student should have

  • Knowledge about how to make holistic planning decisions in the interest of human resilience, security, safety and economic development.
  • An ability to interpret spatial qualities, local identities, while also addressing accessibility, inclusivity, health and safety needs.
  • Understanding how human, technological and natural threats influence changes in planning decisions, building conventions, standardization, transport, societal safety, climate, business, and more.
  • Knowledge about the opportunities and limitations of emerging technoloical solutions.

After the course the students should be able to

  • Use a range of scientific methods for effective and proportionate planning approaches to address human, technological and natural risks and concerns in both pragmatic and considerate ways.
  • Consider resilience as a planning concept in a critical, reflective way.
  • Analyse and evaluate ideas that consider resilient soltions for for urban problems.

After the course the student should have general knowledge regarding

  • Approaching, analyzing and assessing solutions and responses to human, technological and natural problems in urban areas.
  • The complexities of balancing risk prevention with human and social needs.
  • In-depth assessments of a sites via desk-based research and site observation.
  • Independent execution of theoretical and creative project work.
  • Presenting and communicating complex information orally.
  • Presentation of urban projects in a convincing and professional manner through sketches / drawing / illustrations, text, physical / virtual modelling.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Project-based assessment 1/1 7 Weeks Letter grades All

The assessment is based on project work. The scope of the work will be agreed with the teacher at the start according to the chosen theme. The prosject work is submitted either individually or in groups. Resit-ekam options are not offered for the project work. Students who do not pass the project work can take this part again the next time the subject has regular teaching.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Anders Riel Müller

Course teacher:

Anders Riel Müller

Head of Department:

Tore Markeset

Method of work

Lectures.

Independent and group work with tutoring.

Brainstorming sessions.

Individual mentoring.

Field work (in Stavanger region).

Open for

Exchange programme at Faculty of Science and Technology

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital course evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto