People, Movement and Public Space

Cities are alive! People move through the city to reach workplaces, gathering places, schools, shops, and other public facilities and amenities, or to enjoy culture, art, or the company of other people. More and more urban policy frameworks include socially sustainable design strategies that reduce commuting and long-distance travelling and (as such) support local livability and active modes of mobility, such as the TOD strategy, X-Minutes City strategy, and strategies to create new centralities and hubs. But what environments accommodate the urban vitality we all crave? What variation is desired to answer to the hyperdiverse societies in our cities? What is the influence of policymakers, engineers, urban designers, and architects?

This course aims to provide an overview of vested theories. Through critical re-readings and engagement with cutting-edge research on people, movement, and public space, this course invites you to both update your existing knowledge and contribute new, targeted insights that address the needs and experiences of specific social groups. This includes relating seminal works and studies from different disciplines, adding to the mandatory literature by own selection, and testing theories in-situ. The role of policymakers, engineers, designers, and citizens in shaping vibrant urban public space is explored through readings, film, a real-life case, and active discussions with students.

This is certainly not your average dry theory course. For example, rather than two-hour plenary lectures in Delft, the course offers 20-minute video lectures designed to introduce, connect, and provide context for key theoretical frameworks. You watch and study at your convenience. You will not only engage with academic texts, such as papers and books, but also apply the insights gained by testing them in a real urban neighborhood. Assessment is also different than usual as it is not limited to the final submission; through a structured peer-review process, you will receive constructive feedback that enables you to revise and enhance your work before it is formally evaluated. This approach allows Q&A sessions to serve as a platform for asking targeted, thoughtfully prepared questions. Here, the course material will come alive through active discussions and the direct application of theories in analysing real urban settings.