Urban Culture and Public Space

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/L_AABAMKD207

Course Objective

At the end of this course, students are expected to:Be familiar with the theoretical notions of urban culture and public space, and with the design aspects and the implicit methods of inclusion and exclusion that are connected to these notions; Know how to actively analyze urban space, the objectives of its designers, and the ways in which citizens put public space to use; Be able to connect historical, sociological and anthropological concepts with primary sources (e.g., know how to analyze public space through observation); Have improved their academic skills through individual study, group work, and a final report.

Course Content

Public space is omnipresent in our daily existence as represented in the streets, squares and public buildings of our cities. Public space is where we meet friends and strangers, encounter new ideas and objects, commemorate and celebrate, discuss our worries or simply enjoy the moment. This course focuses on the multifaceted relationship between public space and urban culture by taking into account the (historical and contemporary) intentions and experiences of designers, planners, developers, and users. We will ask what the terms 'urban culture' and 'public space' mean in different times and cultures, and we will look into the relationship between the intentions and ideals of the ‘makers’ of public space (architects, urban designers, planners, and commissioners) and the perception and ideals of its users, the public. The course offers a kaleidoscopic journey into the past and present of our everyday living environment, probing into the question what public space can be, how it comes into being and how it is transformed. We will study prevailing writings on urban culture and public space and investigate case studies, both in lectures and on site.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, and excursions. The lectures and seminars of this course are offered in English only and assignments should be submitted in English. Students following the Dutch (bilingual) track and having particular reasons for wanting to submit assignments in Dutch also in this course, should discuss this with the course coordinator in the first week of classes.

Method of Assessment

Midterm exam (40%): learning objectives 1Group project (20%): learning objectives 2,3,4Final report (40%): learning objectives 1,2, 3, 4End terms BA MKDA: 1,2,3,5,8,9

Literature

The literature will later be announced in the syllabus and on Canvas

Target Audience

This course is compulsory for all BA MKDA students in their second year. It is open to students with backgrounds in History or Planning. For exchange students, the approval of the coordinator of this course is requested

Additional Information

For attendance rules, see Teaching and Examination Regulations. Students should be aware that regular attendance is necessary to pass the course.

Entry Requirements

See the Onderwijs
- en Examenregeling (OER), c.q. Teaching and Exam Regulations (TER) for MKDA.