Sustainable Urbanism - The Green-Blue City

BK-MI-216

Dutch cities have to deal with urgent environmental problems. Climate change has become a visible problem in the urban environment of the Netherlands. Cities cope with heavy rainfall in short periods of time and heat stress occurs more often, even leading to more casualties. At the same time, it is clear that both the structure of our cities and their (public) spaces cannot be changed at will. They have a long term life span, creating a friction with necessary social and environmental changes. How to achieve this is the aim of this minor.

The task of the urban planner is to introduce and design sustainable urban interventions, creating future proof neighbourhoods within the framework of a green blue city. In the Sustainable Urban Design studio ‘City and Public Space’ of this minor a sustainable urban design is the main subject. In this studio the minor students will develop design proposals, in interdisciplinary teams. Focus in the studio is on concrete sustainable design exercises. The course Basic Techniques for Sustainable Urban Design will make the minor students equipped and prepared to perform well in the design studio. They will apply theory and use their knowledge background in the group design process.

Image by Erik Fecken, In: Waterplan 2 (2007-2012), Gemeente Rotterdam
Used with permission of the Municipality of Rotterdam.

For whom?

  • BSc students from TU Delft: faculty of Civil Engineering, Industrial Design and Technology, Policy & Management. This minor is not open to students from the BSc programme Architecture TU Delft. BSc exchange students of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment are admissible.
  • BSc students from Leiden University and Erasmus University: this minor is open to students from a few specific BSc programmes of Leiden University and Erasmus University. For the exact BSc programmes from Leiden University and Erasmus University with which you can apply for this minor please check www.minors.tudelft.nl. 
  • BSc students from other Dutch universities: students with a background in urban planning, regional planning, landscape architecture,  social sciences, and other studies related to the topic of climate change are asked to provide a letter of motivation to establish whether they have the right frame of reference.
  • BSc students from HBO: HBO students with a background in urban planning, regional planning, landscape architecture,  social sciences, and other studies related to the topic of climate change are asked to provide a letter of motivation to establish whether they have the right frame of reference.

Course overview

The programme consists of two courses of a total of 15 ECs and takes place in the second quarter. 

  • City and Public Space: Sustainable Urban Design (studio) (BK7225) 10 ECs
  • Basic Techniques for Sustainable Urban Design (BK7215) 5 ECs 

For course descriptions, please visit the study guide

Contact

Students about this minor:

“I’ve enjoyed creating design solutions for an assignment that is actual daily practice!”

“Working on an urgent topic as climate change, creating a resilient plan for Rotterdam while using tools of urban planners, is what inspired me.”

“The interaction between students with different backgrounds created additional value to the project.”

“I've learned to search for possibilities!”

Mariette Overschie