Course Syllabus
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2025 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Sustainability, Urban Design, Urban Studies |
| Faculty Member: |
Silvia Dragomir - use canvas inbox George Savu - use canvas inbox |
| Time & Place: |
Fridays 10:05-13:00. Classroom: N7-B21 |
Syllabus is subject to change.
Course Description
Cities in Europe are global front runners for climate initiatives to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to current/future climatic changes. This course focuses on some of the opportunities and challenges associated with the integration of climate change concerns into the heart of urban planning. The journey takes us on urban exploration while analyzing the synergies, conflicts, and trade-offs between mitigation and adaptation, understanding how planners address the complexities of planning for many uncertain conditions, and the ways in which climate change has become a driver for resilient urban development.
Learning Objectives
- understand the cities' role as a driver for resilient urban development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- be able to analyze strategies within urban development in relation to their immediate as well as more long-term consequences.
- be able to critically analyze and evaluate solutions and proposals that relate to the spatial development of cities and regions, especially with regard to sustainability and climate.
- be able to reflect upon urban developmental situations that are complex, unpredictable and in need of new schemes for solutions whilst planning in a changing climate.
- help you gain skills which will help you become part of the solution in your community
Faculty
Silvia Andreea Dragomir
Architect and urban planner, with an MSc in Sustainable Urban Planning from Aalborg University DK and MSc in Architecture from Bucharest RO and Bordeaux FR. Former collaborations include the Ministry of Transportation in Romania, European funded projects, Low Carbon Regions - a Masterplan for Southern Denmark, co-founder of KlimaLab - a climate innovation platform, City of Toulouse - Climate neighborhood, and private projects in Denmark, Romania, UK and USA. Silvia's professional focus is on sustainability, climate action and healthy cities. Her passion is sharing her knowledge while learning from others and raising awareness for creating better living environments. With DIS since 2015.
George Savu
Architect and sustainable building consultant, with a MSc in Sustainable architecture and interdisciplinary design from Aalborg University and MSc in Architecture from Bucharest. Owner of Klimalab with focus on sustainable built environment. His professional profile includes international cross discipline collaboration at different levels in the architecture and planning field, finding solutions for sustainable construction and better communicating sustainability so that everyone can participate in the decision making process. His passion is to build on sustainable values and contribute to creating a better quality of life for all. With DIS since 2023.
Approach to Teaching
The class will meet once a week during the semester. Assigned readings, urban explorations and student presentations will act as background for class discussion. This course relies heavily on reading in order to gain a deeper understanding of varying case studies we will discuss. Assigned texts must be read before class. Copenhagen will also serve as a living laboratory to illustrate the forces behind climate planning in a European context, where relevant. Moreover, group work is essential following real life working scenarios.
Readings
There is a textbook for this course: Strong towns (e-book in the modules) and complementary article readings, which are found exclusively on Canvas.
The reading for each class is attached/indicated under Modules, as follows:
Lendager Group (2018) A changemaker's guide to the future
Hunt, A., & Watkiss, P. (2011). Climate change impacts and adaptation in cities: a review of the literature. Climatic Change, 104(1), 13-49.
City of Copenhagen (2011). Copenhagen Climate Adaptation Plan
Blanco G., et al.,( 2014): Drivers, Trends and Mitigation. In: Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
McEvoy, D. et al. (2006) Adaptation and mitigation in urban areas: synergies and conflicts. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers Municipal Engineer 159 (Pages 185–191)
Vuuren, D.P. et al. (2010). The use of scenarios as the basis for combined assessment of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Global Environmental Change 21 (2011) 575–591
Flyvbjerg, B. (2012). Bringing Power to Planning Research: One Researcher’s Praxis Story. In Fainstein, S. and Campbell, S. (eds.). Readings in Planning Theory (pp. 241-267). Oxford: Wiley and Sons
Hersh, B. (2012) The Complexity of Urban Waterfront Redevelopment. New York (Pages 23-37)
Labadie, J. (2011). Emergency Managers Confront Climate Change. Sustainability
Out and about
Two Wednesdays you will have the chance to connect with your group-mates by going out in the city and exploring the areas of your interest and working on your group's project.
Expectations of the Students
This course is not a traditional lecture class, but relies heavily on class discussion, informed by an in-depth, critical reading of the assigned texts. The readings for each class have purposely been kept to reasonable amount and it is expected that all students have read, seen, or played the material prior to the lectures.
In class:
We expect you to fully engage in the lectures, participate actively in discussions, and be open minded about your fellow students' points of view. Your overall grade will be depending on an engaged, informed, and highly active participation in class discussion.
Illness and missing class
We all have a collective responsibility towards each other at DIS. Please monitor yourself carefully for symptoms of COVID-19, flu, stomach flu,... If you experience any of these symptoms, please stay at home and inform your instructor that you won’t be in class or at a field study – this will count as an excused absence.
Do keep up with your coursework and join activities as soon as you feel better, no later than the following class. This should include doing all the class preparation and checking in with your classmates for the class activities. If you are too sick to do work, please reach out to the DIS Care team at care@dis.dk for medical support.
Evaluation
Class participation
Participation will be evaluated by the extent to which students attend classes, actively engage in class discussions, contribute to workshops, and critically reflect on the assigned readings. You are expected to bring your reading notes as well as questions to class. The reading required is the one going beyond finding information, or identifying main ideas. It will ask you to dig deep to identify meaning, relationships between ideas, and to challenge yourself finding your own response to these ideas, and its impact to the world around. Such response involves analysis, synthesis and creativity. You are encouraged to bring your own experiences into the discussions.
Creative journal of climate solutions
This is your collection of class reflections, representing the connection between readings, discussions and our visits in the city. A minimum of a creative, crafted page per class (collage, drawing, mind map, manifesto, recipe book, letter ...), each of structured observations and critical reflections on what you experienced, learned, and thought about during and after the mobile lectures. This journal is meant to hone both your observational and critical reflection skills, as well as to practice concise writing techniques and develop your creative skills.
This creative journal forms the foundation for the final project.
FINAL PROJECT
Climate resilient island community. An analysis.
This is a group exercise consisting of:
- Summarizing and connecting our field visits, discussions and readings, and answering the question: What is a climate resilient island community?
- Analyze Dragør and its climate risks and opportunities.
- Producing a work basis for your proposal for a climate resilient community.
Climate resilient island community. A proposal.
The assignment is a group exercise consisting of:
- Answer the question: How to build a climate resilient island community?
- Design a proposal for an inclusive, connected and sustainable resilient island community, based on your Dragør analysis.
- Presenting your solutions to the class
|
All assignments must be handed in on the due date electronically through Canvas, unless otherwise mentioned. Late hand-in and lack of references are not accepted. To be eligible for a passing grade in this class you must complete all of the assigned work. |
Grading
| Assignment |
Percent |
| Class participation | 20% |
| Creative journal | 30% |
| Resilient island community |
20% |
| Cities as solutions | 30% |
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
Electronic Devices in the Classroom
Use of laptops is allowed for the purpose of note-taking ONLY and requires prior consultation. Students should refrain from all other computer activities, as they prove distracting to themselves and fellow students. Mobile phones and other electronic communication devices should of course be turned off and stored away. Using the laptop for other purposes than note-taking will have a negative impact on your grade.
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Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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