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80 409 Urban transformation

Full course name in Norwegian Bokmål: 
Urban preservation
Credits: 
6
Course code: 
80 409
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching semester: 
2018 Spring
Assessment semester: 
2018 Spring
Language of instruction: 
English
Year: 
2018
Maximum number of students: 
15
Person in charge
Even Smith Wergeland
Required prerequisite knowledge

Foundation level completed. Students are strongly encouraged to combine this course with the Re-Store Municipal Monuments studio course (80608), which is closely linked in terms of subject matter, theoretical basis and working methods.

Course content

The urban landscape of Norwegian cities and towns is changing, so is the valuation of historical buildings and neighborhoods. The current urge for progress in the form of compact cities, planned to handle a substantial population growth, puts pressure on the existing urban fabric. In parallel with that, however, the ongoing ‘green shift’, with its emphasis on sustainability, urban denseness and energy-friendly solutions, also comes with a renewed understanding of the built environment as part of the green wave. Demolition is not always optimal from an energy perspective, especially not if historical buildings are handled, re-used and re-cycled in skillful and creative ways. Urban structures of the past can also boost social sustainability and strengthen neighborhood identity, potentially in dialogue with new additions.

For this reason, architects and planners will increasingly be asked to handle historical material in the future. An architectural brief very seldom comes without a historical perspective of some kind. Consequently, more knowledge is needed in order to manage this interesting challenge in practice. This course seeks to define and develop precisely that competence, primarily at an urban scale, through theoretical studies and practical assignments. The main question is: How can one reflect history and direct the future in one coherent process?

The aim of this course is to explore this question by studying various forms of preservation theories and cultural heritage strategies in relation to urban planning theory and practice. Experimental preservation is a key term in this respect, as is visual ethnography – the production of visual content with an analytical framework in mind.

Learning outcome

The students will gain insights into current debates on urban preservation, with a particular emphasis on the Norwegian discourse. This involves a basic understanding of bureaucratic systems, political processes, laws and regulations, yet also the possibility to think beyond established rules and doctrines. The idea is to bridge theory and practice by mixing a critical reflection on the value of urban history with addressing urgent needs in the contemporary city through project-based output.

The students will achieve hands-on experience in how to perform urban preservation, through sketching out cultural heritage plans and processing relevant data. They will learn how to conduct field work, how to process data and prepare a strategic urban plan, with the aim of harnessing historical material with a future-oriented outcome. This involves working with local stakeholders, such as municipal offices, entrepreneurs and regular citizens.

This year's edition of the course builds on an ongoing collaboration between the Institute of form, theory and history and the Asker municipality. The student projects will be included in this process, which involves the Asker Town Hall building and its relation to the surrounding urban environment. Students will learn how to produce strategically relevant material for a municipal reality in which preservation issues are part of a larger vision for urban redevelopment.

At a more general level, the students will gain a deeper understanding of key literature in the field, crucial theoretical concepts and key terms in urban preservation management. 

Working and learning activities

Urban preservation consists of a combination of lectures, seminars and field visits to selected urban preservation sites in Oslo and elsewhere. The course requires active participation in seminars and the students are expected to engage in visual ethnography on site, using an array of visual documentation techniques in order to solve the designated fieldwork. In addition, students are expected to conduct archival research and other forms of information harvesting to gather data for their course assignments.

Mandatory courseworkCourseworks requiredPresence requiredComment
Annet - spesifiser i kommentarfeltet Not requiredThe course requires active participation in seminars and excursions. Students are expected to organise and carry out field work to support their individual projects. In addition, students are expected to conduct archival research and other forms of information harvesting to gather data for their course assignments.
Obligatoriske arbeidskrav:
Mandatory coursework:Annet - spesifiser i kommentarfeltet
Courseworks required:
Presence required:Not required
Comment:The course requires active participation in seminars and excursions. Students are expected to organise and carry out field work to support their individual projects. In addition, students are expected to conduct archival research and other forms of information harvesting to gather data for their course assignments.
Form of assessmentGroupingGrading scaleComment
Project assignmentIndividualPass / failFeasibility Study (Norsk: mulighetsstudie)

The students will harness the archival material and field work data to produce a written and visual assessment of a proposed preservation plan or method. This will take form as a compact feasibility study, allowing the students to explore a realistic strategic format typically devised in the early stages of a municipal planning process. While the students are expected to demonstrate basic mastery of the conventions of a feasibility study, they are also encouraged to critically engage with the standard format in order to introduce unorthodox perspectives and modes of presentation, exploiting their creative and visual skills. The scope of the final document will be decided upon in dialogue with the municipal authorities for whom the study is developed.
Vurderinger:
Form of assessment:Project assignment
Grouping:Individual
Grading scale:Pass / fail
Comment:Feasibility Study (Norsk: mulighetsstudie)

The students will harness the archival material and field work data to produce a written and visual assessment of a proposed preservation plan or method. This will take form as a compact feasibility study, allowing the students to explore a realistic strategic format typically devised in the early stages of a municipal planning process. While the students are expected to demonstrate basic mastery of the conventions of a feasibility study, they are also encouraged to critically engage with the standard format in order to introduce unorthodox perspectives and modes of presentation, exploiting their creative and visual skills. The scope of the final document will be decided upon in dialogue with the municipal authorities for whom the study is developed.