The course focuses on current theories in urbanism, with a special emphasis on how to understand the contemporary city in terms of urban development and socio-cultural features. The overall emphasis of the course will be to read and discuss a selection of texts that present new theoretical perspectives on the current urban condition. We will also, related to the various theoretical topics, visit a selection of exemplary sites in Oslo.

Priority is given to cross-disciplinary approaches and to theoretical perspectives that seek to interrelate issues of planning and design with social and cultural issues. The course can be combined with or prepare for master studios at Institute of urbanism and landscape. The course also has general relevance for architecture and design students interested in the relationship between architecture and societal developments.