Overview M. Arch. UD

Discipline of Urban design that is primarily focused on the questions of public domain is essentially a design discipline having strong interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary dimension to it. Hence the thrust of this course lies on studio based explorations and learnings, that is seen as a melting point of learning from various other core, supportive and elective subjects of this course.

First semester is focused on reading and mapping of the city through the idea of layers. Idea of layers introduces students to multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary dimension of urban design while able to grasp and comprehend the complex nature of city as a phenomenon. Subjects like urban design methodologies, history of urban from and space, reading the city, etc. contribute to the theoretical understanding of city, subjects like landscape urbanism and site planning enhances their understanding of the natural and ecological contexts within which the human habitation and city is taking place as a cultural phenomenon. Additional subject of GIS that is offered by this course provides students the enhanced tool for correlating information from various layers. First semester studios are often based in inner city context and ends with small scale interventions. 

Second semester is focused on crafting of the design language i.e. to respond through the prime tool of form and space and their syntax. Subjects like Urban Design Theories and Criticism, planning tools for urban designers, urban systems enables students to take stands, develop an argument and demonstrate their responses in terms of design. Second semester studios are also about Relative Study Programs where the project site is located outside the city of Pune that exposes students to different natural settings, physical expositions and different cultural contexts altogether. This further rationalises their reading and mapping capacities while enhancing the their understanding of the dynamic relation between people, places and their design. Second semester studios are often green field development projects that provide ample opportunities for students to test and understand the language of design in the context of human habitation at various scales.

 Third semester is focused on the understanding of the manifestation processes of urban design projects. While subjects like Urban Design Policies: Practice and Implementation, Urban Conservation, Urban Economics and Financial Planning contribute the theoretical understanding of the same, studio inquiring into the urban transformations further adds to the understanding of design approaches and their compatibility with implementation strategies.

Elective subjects often strengthens the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary understanding of urban design.

Fourth semester is the final semester and culminates into an individual research based Urban Design Project. Starting from second semester every student frame and build their own research relevant for the discipline of urban design in today’s context and demonstrate the same through an urban design project individually.

To strengthen hands on experience of practice of urban design there is 40 days of professional training introduced between second and third semester. 

As this course deals with the public domain and quality of built environment of human habitations, field studies are integral to this course. Studio based learnings are further strengthened with reviews and juries with experts from the field. Guest lectures are organised often to expose students to the projects and studies happening in the field of urban design and allied disciplines. In this course participatory learning process is encouraged by participating in joint workshops, competitions, collaborations at local, national and international levels. Efforts have also been to put together explorations, learnings and outcomes from studios, assignments in the form of books and/or public exhibitions through PVPCOA’s Research and Design Cell, so that it can reach people forming a bridge between our school and the society of which we are a part.