Course Overview: The Future City Design Studio, an immersive and interdisciplinary course focused on envisioning the cities of tomorrow. In this studio, students will engage with complex urban challenges, utilizing cutting-edge technologies and innovative design strategies to create sustainable, livable, and resilient cities for future generations.

Participants will explore a range of themes, from smart infrastructure and ecological urbanism to human-centric design, climate adaptation, and social equity. Through hands-on projects, collaborative workshops, and real-world case studies, students will develop holistic urban design solutions that address the dynamic needs of modern cities.

Key Learning Objectives:

Understand the key challenges and opportunities in designing future urban environments.
Develop a systems-thinking approach to integrating technology, sustainability, and design.
Learn to apply emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, data analytics, and sustainable materials in urban design.
Enhance skills in digital modeling, urban planning, and stakeholder engagement.
Explore innovative concepts like smart cities, eco-cities, and adaptive reuse in the context of future urban development.
Course Structure: This studio course is project-based, with students working individually and in teams to develop design proposals for future cities. Along with lectures and guest talks from industry experts, the course includes fieldwork, workshops, and reviews that help sharpen students' technical and creative abilities. Collaboration with real-world stakeholders and design professionals will ensure practical insights and feedback.

By the end of this course, students will have a deep understanding of the urban design landscape and be equipped to propose visionary yet practical solutions for the cities of the future.

Who Should Enroll: This course is ideal for students and professionals from disciplines such as urban planning, architecture, civil engineering, environmental design, and anyone passionate about shaping the future of urban living.

None

Attendance & Class Participation: 20%
Midterm Presentation: 30%
Final Presentation: 50%

Distributed during class hours

Week 1: Course Introduction
Week 2: Participants (Artists) presentation
Week 3: Thanks Giving Week
Week 4: Students' Initial Idea Conception Presentation 1
Week 5: Students' Initial Idea Conception Presentation 1
Week 6: Level of Details - CAD
Week 7: Project Visualization Exercise
Week 8: Mid Term Exam Week
Week 9: Project Proposal Initial Review
Week 10: Artist Week Formal Presentation
Week 11: Contextualism - Project Background
Week 12: Implementation - Project Idea Proposal
Week 13: Realization - Rendering
Week 14: Rapid Prototyping
Week 15: Final Project Presentation
Week 16: Final Exam Week

Lecture and Presentations of students progress.

Assignments for Future City Design Studio

The assignments in the Future City Design Studio are designed to challenge students to think critically and creatively about the future of urban environments. These tasks will involve hands-on experimentation, research, and design work that mimic real-world urban challenges. Below list is an example for each student's project that will allow students to explore different aspects of urban design, from conceptual thinking to detailed technical execution.

Example Assignment 1: City of the Future Vision
Description: Students will create a vision that articulates their concept of a future city. This assignment should highlight core themes such as sustainability, technology, social inclusivity, mobility, and environmental resilience. Students are encouraged to use a mix of media, including sketches, collages, digital models, and narrative descriptions, to convey their ideas.
Objective: To develop an initial understanding of future city concepts and articulate a personal design vision that integrates key urban challenges.

Example Assignment 2: Smart City Art Infrastructure Design
Description: In this assignment, students will design a specific art infrastructure component for a smart city. This could be related to transportation, energy, water management, waste systems, or communications networks. Students will need to incorporate emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, or renewable energy systems into their designs.
Objective: To deepen understanding of how smart technologies can be integrated into urban infrastructure to create efficient, responsive, and sustainable cities.

Example Assignment 3: Urban Resilience Design Challenge
Description: Students will tackle a design challenge focused on enhancing the resilience of cities to climate change, natural disasters, or social stresses (e.g., migration, inequality). Students can choose to design a master plan for a neighborhood or develop a specific intervention, such as flood-resistant housing, renewable energy hubs, or adaptable public spaces.
Objective: To apply systems-thinking and innovative design solutions to build cities that are adaptable to future environmental and social challenges.