You have now been exposed to various projects that were framed within five themes: (1) Revitalization and Community Development, (2) Large Infrastructure and Themed Growth, (3) Public Open Space, (4) Disaster Relief and Urban Resilience, and (5) Urban Conservation and Adaptive Reuse. Projects were grouped based on either common issues or common operational capacities used to address those issues. Urban design is never one-dimensional thus projects will naturally overlap with the framing narrative of more than one theme. Having now reviewed a broad spectrum of work, and making reference to your notes, readings, discussion sessions, and independent research, you will propose an alternative organizational approach for the projects presented in this course.

(3,000 words– 1,000 per theme) Propose a new framing method and 3 alternative themes. When determining your new themes, you should ask: What (in your opinion) are the most critical issues of the contemporary city? How do the projects in this course begin to collectively address those issues? Are there other urban design projects not presented that more effectively address those issues? By asking the questions above, your new themes should define what you see to be the most important considerations for urban designers today. Establish a framing narrative for each new theme based on historical trajectories, current realities, and future projections.
(2,000 words – 200 per project) Based on your new themes, reorganize at least 10 of the 18 projects presented and compose individual abstracts that reframe and highlight the most important aspects of each project. Abstracts should describe project overviews, and position them within one of your new organizational themes. (In the event that none of the projects in this course fit into one of your themes, include abstracts for urban design projects of your choosing such that each of your 3 themes has 3-5 projects.)