ABN402 Sustainable Urban Design

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit explores multiple dimensions of integrated approaches and principles in urban design. It is about adding quality to products and processes related to urban spaces that shape our everyday life experiences and reinforce sustainability and landscape resilience. You will gain an appreciation and deeper understanding of the complex urban problems and different ways of thinking to respond to these multifaceted challenges and translate them into policy and design solutions. You will explore key principles, frameworks and associated methods to enable good urban design practice that leads to sustainable design practices.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge on contemporary issues that are critical in urban design guided by key principles and integrated approaches.
2. Apply methods and tools to critically identify, investigate and analyse context specific issues and policies relevant to urban design.
3. Apply and translate theory and evidence-based research into policy recommendations and design interventions aimed to deliver quality urban design.
4. Critically analyse urban design characteristics through a range of methods and tools as they relate to a specific space.

Content

Learning Approaches

ABN402 is designed as a shared learning environment for Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) and Master of Architecture students, focusing on integrated urban design strategies that reinforce sustainability, resilience, and enriched everyday experiences. By engaging diverse disciplinary perspectives, this unit mirrors the collaborative nature of professional practice at an advanced learning level, guiding you to address complex urban challenges and translate their insights into effective policy and design solutions.

In this unit you will have the opportunity to learn through active engagement with different learning resources, peer learning, moderated and facilitated discussions and workshops, learning events and self-directed learning materials. You will explore various intellectually stimulating activities aimed to empower you within the sphere of sustainable urban design. Equipped with practical methods and tools, you will be able to navigate through complex urban issues and find policy pathways/ interventions that can add value. The unit will contain self-directed learning supported by digital means. For effective knowledge and skills development, weekly participation in learning activities is essential. Additional work outside teaching times will also be required in line with QUT guidelines.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:

• in-class formative exercises
• criteria referenced assessment sheets
• general comments to cohort group via the Canvas site and in-class discussions
• collaborative peer, academic and industry feedback.

Assessment

Overview

In order to satisfy the requirements of this unit, you will need to demonstrate knowledge, critical thinking processes, and presentation skills in relation to the subject matter; these are demonstrated across the assessment pieces, with the first assessment focusing on your knowledge of this area, and the ability to gather an in-depth understanding of sustainable urban design; and the second assessment testing your ability to apply and translate your knowledge through investigation, and communicate your findings effectively through a report, crafted as a combination of text and original graphics.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Urban Design Policy Concept Proposal

You will present your well-researched and theoretically grounded concept proposal for an urban design policy. The proposal should be based on sound principles of urban aiming to add quality to processes and spatial products in a specified context.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

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Assessment: Urban Design Policy Development

You will prepare a report to outline your proposed urban design policy, supported by evidence and grounded in urban design theories and practices. The report will include text and graphics.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

Because some of the teaching and learning resources are online, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone to enable your full participation in learning activities and engagement with learning materials.

Costs

There are no additional costs associated with this unit

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

Substantial computer-based work will be required. You are recommended to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work, and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.

Course Learning Outcomes

AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)

1. Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
   Relates to: Urban Design Policy Concept Proposal, Urban Design Policy Development
2. Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
   Relates to: Urban Design Policy Concept Proposal, Urban Design Policy Development
3. Reflect on feedback and experience, and display professional and ethical judgment and initiative.
   Relates to: Urban Design Policy Development

DE83 Master of Architecture

1. Identifying, explaining and working with appropriate knowledge of architecture, its history and precedents and with knowledge of people, environments, culture, technology, history and ideas pertinent to architectural propositions.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Urban Design Policy Concept Proposal, Urban Design Policy Development
2. Supporting their decision-making using evidence-based, reasoned argument and judgement pertaining to architectural propositions.
   Relates to: ULO2, Urban Design Policy Concept Proposal, Urban Design Policy Development
3. Communicating with a variety of audiences in appropriate ways.
   Relates to: ULO1, Urban Design Policy Development
4. Demonstrating their understanding of architecture's status as an ethical service-oriented profession committed to responsible care for the inhabited environment.
   Relates to: ULO3, Urban Design Policy Development