Table of contents

The course is connected to the following study programs

Teaching language

Norwegian

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, the students should be able to:
  • Be able to discuss theories, concepts and understandings of urbanism as planning for socio-spatiality
  • Knowledge on crucial aspect of ur urban planning and urban design
  • Having a critical perspective on planning discourses, in particular the planning for city life
  • Be able to use theories for intervention in urban planning and urban politics
  • Understand and evaluate visible and emergent forces of change and suggest intervention

Contents

The key-theme is urbanism as the socio-spatial forming of cities, and what forces are included here. Architects say "life first, then houses", but what do they mean by `life'? The course departs from earlier introductions to cultural clusters, entrepreneurial cities, experience economy, event cities, digi-cities, and knowledge cities. Themes are (a) traditional forms of cultural planning - art, music - as part of strategic urban development within the interurban competition. (b) Cities prefer 'network-strategies' as governing strategy, and today this includes (c) a greater focus on everyday life and its aesthetic forces. Further it includes the recognition of the city as a space of experience and experience with change.

The course will introduce and discuss urban theory and urban planning theory from the following themes:

 

Urban planning and urban theory

  • What is urbanism and urbanity?
  • How is the relation everyday life, public space, visual space, urban design understood?
  • How is diversity, community, urbanity and experience understood?

 

Key areas of urbanisms

  • The socio-spatiality of cities
  • Urban design and and socio-material fields of interaction
  • City life as values, normativity, everyday life

 

Interventions

  • Urban competiton: the event city
  • The city as public space
  • The lived city: Life-forms and experiences
  • Urban life as perceptions, experience, sesning and aesthetic

Teaching and learning methods

Combination of lectures, seminars and group work. The course's teaching is organized through a structured study guide that requires a high degree of student participation.

Examination requirements

Compulsory participation in group-work and seminars.

Examinations

Essay 3000 words for individual, 5000 words for group (max 3 students). The essay is assessed on the basis of graded grade A-F.

Student evaluation

The study programme manager, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 7:06:53 AM