Urban Morphology & Metabolism

3 units

This research seminar investigates the art and science of the city as a complex self-organized system using the urban morphology and metabolism methodology to create design conditions for the sustainable, resilient and regenerative city. Urban morphology focuses on the physical form and use of the built environment, the processes and actors shaping cities, as well as the experiential, social, economic and human health consequences of urban form. Urban metabolism investigates the networked levels and flows of resource and material consumption and use within the urban environment and the impacts on finite global resources. This seminar will discuss the history, conceptual framework and current standards of practice within each of the methods, and the key interrelationships to reveal the fundamental links between urban form and flow and the social, economic and environmental performance of cities. This course is required for the Doctor of Sustainable Urbanism students and is open to all MArch, MLA and MUD students. Fulfills an Urban Issues and MUD elective requirement. Permission from the instructor required for undergraduates.