Collaboration between architects and planners in an urban design studio: potential for interdisciplinary learning. (28th January 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hirt, Sonia; Luescher, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Journal of design research. Volume 6:Number 4(2007)
• Page Start: 422
• Page End: 443
• Publication Date: 2008-01-28
• Subjects: architecture pedagogy -- collaborative learning -- interdisciplinary education -- Toledo -- Ohio -- urban design pedagogy -- urban design studio -- urban planning pedagogy -- collaborative design -- design teams -- design education -- architectural students -- planning students; Design -- Human factors -- Periodicals; Design -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Design, Industrial -- Periodicals; 745.405
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-3050

Abstract

Design professionals need to acquire competencies in interdisciplinary, collaborative design practice. Proceeding from this assumption, this paper analyses a case study of a joint project between an architecture studio at Bowling Green State University and a planning seminar at the University of Toledo. Students working in extramural teams developed proposals for the revitalisation of a plaza in Toledo, a historic city in Ohio. The plaza, which in architectural terms represents a blend of Gilded-Age finery, high-order contemporary work and stretches of decay, is in the process of slow regeneration. The main goals were: 1) pedagogical ? to enhance the students' learning experiences by providing them with the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary teams; and 2) research-orientated ? to examine the differences, if any, in design approaches between the architectural and the planning students. Summary outcomes include an enhanced understanding of the architectural-planning differences and a greater appreciation of the potential for mutual learning.