LEARNING FROM NEW YORK

Learning from New York will focus on the city’s architecture and urban growth, through a practical, in-depth approach to today’s city’s features.

We will examine New York as a case study of the history of the American city using a comparative approach.

Students will learn about the challenges that face contemporary cities and the role architecture and urban planning can and must play in their evolution

Learning outcomes

Students will become familiar with the changes that upset the urban equilibrium in late 19^th century and early 20^th century. They will understand the impact of the transformation that began then, the resulting growth and new ideas that emerged in the Twentieth Century and the changes that were unleashed not only in New York but throughout America.

We will also discuss the more recent urban and architectural strategies that deal both with the transformation of the city core and with the phenomenon of sprawl and unchecked growth that has shaped contemporary peripheral urban landscapes.

Each lesson will center on a specific theme that will help to introduce the cultural frame and struggles of urban evolution.

The themes will be:

· The city as a social construct.

· Reasons for Settlement. Trade, Geography. Nyc Port

· The Commissioners Plan. Central Park.

-Making the city efficient / livable: Water, Fire, Security.

· The train breaks the boundaries. 1rst suburbs- The Subway

· Regional Plan for New York

-Hugh Ferris, Raymond Hood and the construction of the Rockefeller Center

· A new architectural language for an emerging society.

· The World Fairs of 1939 and1964

· Mass housing: The construction of a compact city.

· The dream of a modern city.

-Bridge and tunnels -Moses vs Jacobs. -The car shapes the city. Suburbia

· A new metropolitan frame: Recent projects / Future goals: density, recycling, public

transportation, restoring equilibrium.

We will screen films or film excerpts to introduce each theme.

It’s important to understand New York as a city of immigrants and ethnic enclaves. Politics and planning have always been shaped by that. The course will include a series of 10 films that will help discuss the city life, struggles and attractions beneath the cliché. We’ll open the series with The Naked City (1948) and we’ll close the program with Chop Shop (2008).

2. Methodology

After exploring the different themes through images – photographs, plans, diagrams videos - each lesson will be followed by a comparative practicum and discussion, that will allow students to apply the themes discussed in class.

Students are expected to participate in the class discussions and to prepare a short presentation about related cases by bringing materials ( photos, paintings, texts, maps, posters, ads, etc.)

3. Course Requirements

3.1-Attendance and Participation

3.2-Public presentation of a topic

3.3-Exercise. Project work
This year we will explore the improvement and transformation of two sites

A- Red Hook, Brooklyn and the area around Atlantic Basin (piers 11 & 12)

B- Delancey Street and the area next to Williamsburg Bridge in Manhattan.

Course Review CLICK

Syllabus

Videos

Under construction