UD703 URBAN DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

Course Objectives

The concept of sustainability has become central to contemporary urbanism, shaping how we plan, design, and govern cities in the face of rapid urbanization, climate change, and growing social inequalities. This graduate course explores the multifaceted idea of sustainable cities and communities, focusing on how urban environments can be made more livable, equitable, resilient, and ecologically responsible. Grounded in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 — “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” — the course critically examines theoretical frameworks, urban design policy tools, and practical strategies and projects that aim to transform urban spaces into more sustainable places. Through a balanced combination of lectures, case studies, and design-based inquiry, students will engage with pressing global and local challenges, while exploring innovative approaches to urban sustainability in diverse contexts. Key themes include environmental justice, inclusive urban design governance, green infrastructure, public space, housing, mobility, and climate resilience. The course emphasizes a comparative perspective, highlighting examples from both the Global North and Global South, as well as best practices and limitations observed in Turkey and other parts of the world. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to critically analyze urban sustainability initiatives and contribute to the design of communities that prioritize both human and ecological well-being. Therefore, the course will enable students to:

• Critically assess the theoretical foundations of urban sustainability and its relation to urban design
• Understand the spatial, environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable design
• Compare and evaluate global case studies from varied geographical and socio-economic contexts
• Engage in interdisciplinary thinking for resilient and inclusive city-making. 

Course Content

Grounded in the United Nations? Sustainable Development Goal 11 ? ?Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable?. Exploring theoretical frameworks, urban design policy tools, and practical design strategies and projects that aim to transform urban spaces into more sustainable places. The key relations between urban sustainability and sustainable communities. Historical perspectives and paradigms of urban sustainability and sustainable communities. Key topics related to urban morphology. Compact city, density and mixed use. Green infrastructure and nature-based solutions. Mobility, accessibility and walkability. Socio-spatial and environmental justice and inclusive urban design. Participatory urban design and community-based planning. Informality, precarity and design in the Global South. Urban regeneration, conservation and sustainability conflicts. Exploring innovative urban design approaches to urban sustainability in diverse contexts. Developing interdisciplinary and design-based thinking and co-learning environment through comparative case studies from the Global South and the Global North.

Course Learning Outcomes

This course is offered as part of the Master's Program in Urban Design and is also open to graduate students from the Departments of Architecture and City and Regional Planning. It will serve as an elective course for the Master’s programs and address the students’ needs for elective courses in urban design. This elective course will provide a comprehensive theoretical foundation on sustainable cities and communities, with a focus on both international and Turkish examples. Through comparative case studies, students will critically examine diverse urban practices and evaluate their relevance and applicability across contexts. Emphasis is placed on developing interdisciplinary and design-based thinking to address the challenges of creating sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban environments. The knowledge gained in this course can be applied in Urban Design Studios, other coursework, and urban design theses. The course also aims to actively engage students in the course content and enhance collaborative learning throughout the term by asking them to contribute to the lectures through the cases they will examine and present orally. 

Program Outcomes Matrix

0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution