COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: SPECIAL TOPICS IN URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
ARCH 561	B	9	3	1	0	4	6

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	NA
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Dr. Fabio Naselli fnaselli@epoka.edu.al , Thursday, 1:45 – 2:30pm
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Integrated second cycle study program in Architecture (5 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:	COMPUTER LAB II
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:
Course Description:	Exploration of the legal foundation of planning practice and of organizational environments and administrative practices characterizing planning practice.
Course Objectives:	The general aim of the course is to carry on a broad and holistic reflection in a range of conventional urban "topics" but, in this 2020 a.C. (after COVID19), all linked to the crucial general subject of “effects of the pandemic” (and other shocking events). This is the way the course intends to deal with the next issues into both city design and management; watching it through various approaches and in its integration between the several layers in which any city is shaped. The special topics selected in this 2020 Fall class are: Intro – 2020 a.C. (after COVID19): Almost a year without public space and with limited social interactions Lecture 1 - Urban Open Spaces to Places in the time of crisis (the revised roles of both public and private spaces within the city) Lecture 2 - A renewed Human-centered City (new urban circulations and new city relationships) Lecture 3 - Urban strategies and tactics for resilience in facing the challenges (development strategies and urban tactics) Self-training – Open Workshop organization (topics, invitations, communication, graphic, framework, ICT tools, etc.) Lecture 4 – Insights on Urban Resilience Lecture 5 – Insights on crucial issues in both design and governance within the contemporary city Open Workshop: 2020 a.C.: A Year without Public Space under the COVID-19 Pandemic Lecture 6 – Insights and outlooks onto the workshop outputs Lecture 7 – Insights and outlooks referred to Tirana's ongoing development as a case study Lecture 8 – Insights on term paper topic draft's oral submission + open discussion Lecture 9 – Ultimate insights and course conclusion Just nowadays, we are assisting in the birth of new issues - sometimes very unexpected - in approaching designing and managing the complex system named city. COVID-19 global pandemic is impacting with most of our "common feeling and common spaces" in most of the urban materials we usually well-know and manage. Open spaces, living places, transportation, social habits, urban environments and other conventional topics are currently affected by this new and unpredictable event. Will it be the only one we are facing in the short-time? There will be other natural or human disaster we will be forced in facing at the urban/city scale? The course will focus on a few of special topics that we are experiencing within some of those new instances, with a deep (and diverse) sight on those good practices and experiments world widespread but with a strictly local-oriented opening scale. The main mission is in searching comparison between what is expectable within the Albanian Capital City Tirana and what it is occurring abroad.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

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COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Intro – 2020 a.C. (after COVID19): Almost a year without public space and limited social interactions (Opening Lecture + Course organization)
2	Lecture 1 - Urban Open Spaces to Places in the time of crisis (the revised roles of both public and private spaces within the city)
3	Lecture 2 - A renewed Human-centered City (new urban circulations and new city relationships)
4	Lecture 3 - Urban strategies and tactics for resilience in facing the challenges (development strategies and urban tactics)
5	Self-training part – Open Workshop organization - tentative date 13.01.2020 (topics, invitations, communication, graphic, framework, ICT tools, etc.)
6	Midterm Exams
7	Lecture 4 – Insights on Urban Resilience + Open Workshop organization advancements
8	Lecture 5 – Insights on crucial issues in both design and governance within the contemporary city + Open Workshop organization ends
9	Open Workshop: 2020 a.C.: A Year without Public Space under the COVID-19 Pandemic
10	Open Workshop: 2020 a.C.: A Year without Public Space under the COVID-19 Pandemic
11	Lecture 6 – Insights and outlooks onto the workshop outputs (open discussion)
12	Lecture 7 – Insights and outlooks referred to Tirana's ongoing development as a case study
13	Lecture 8 – Term paper topic draft's oral submission + open discussion
14	Lecture 9 – Insights and conclusion

Prerequisite(s):	-
Textbook(s):	Readings and other materials will be released or suggested during the course
Additional Literature:	Readings and other materials will be released or suggested during the course
Laboratory Work:	-
Computer Usage:	Yes
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Learning on recent developments in the field of urban planning and design as referred to the current pandemic challenges
2	Dealing with multidisciplinary & multiscale approaches in urban designing
3	The issues of complexity in approaching any human environments
4	Social and environmental awareness in self-transforming urban settlements
5	Urban Spaces and Places in the time of COVID19
6	A renewed Human-centered City
7	Urban strategies and tactics for resilience in facing the current challenges
8	Insights on Urban Resilience
9	Insights on crucial issues in both design and governance within the contemporary city
10	Insights and outlooks referred to Tirana's ongoing development as a case study

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Integrated second cycle study program in Architecture (5 years) Program
1	Speaking and Writing Skills Ability to read, write, listen, and speak effectively
2	Critical Thinking Skills Ability to raise clear and precise questions, use abstract ideas to interpret information, consider diverse points of view, reach well-reasoned conclusions, and test them against relevant criteria and standards
3	Graphics Skills Ability to use appropriate representational media, including freehand drawing and computer technology, to convey essential formal elements at each stage of the programming and design process
4	Research Skills Ability to gather, assess, record, and apply relevant information in architectural course work
5	Formal Ordering Systems Understanding of the fundamentals of visual perception and the principles and systems of order that inform two- and three-dimensional design, architectural composition, and urban design
6	Fundamental Design Skills Ability to use basic architectural principles in the design of buildings, interior spaces, and sites
7	Collaborative Skills Ability to recognize the varied talent found in interdisciplinary design project teams in professional practice and work in collaboration with other students as members of a design team
8	International Traditions Understanding of the International architectural canons and traditions in architecture, landscape and urban design, as well as the climatic, technological, culture-economic, and other cultural factors that have shaped and sustained them
9	National and Regional Traditions Understanding of national traditions and the local regional heritage in architecture, landscape design and urban design, including the vernacular tradition
10	Use of Precedents Ability to incorporate relevant precedents into architecture and urban design projects
11	Conservation and Restoration of Historical Districts Knowledge on historical districts and the gain of conservation consciousness documentation of historical buildings and the understanding the techniques which are needed to prepare restoration projects.
12	Human Behavior Understanding of the theories and methods of inquiry that seek to clarify the relationship between human behavior and the physical environment
13	Human Diversity Understanding of the diverse needs, values, behavioral norms, physical ability, and social and spatial patterns that characterize different cultures and individuals and the implication of this diversity for the societal roles and responsibilities of architects

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)	1	30
Lab/Practical Exams(s)	1	15
Term Paper	1	40
Attendance		10
Other	1	5
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	20	4	80
Mid-terms	1	3	3
Assignments	4	3	12
Final examination	1	1	1
Other	1	6	6
Total Work Load:			150
Total Work Load/25(h):			6
ECTS Credit of the Course:			6

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

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