City Within a City: Design a Neighborhood!
Learn urban planning while designing a sustainable, walkable, mixed use neighborhood. Create your own systems of transportation, food and energy production, public space and more!
Heather Korb, Architect
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(154)
What's included
8 live meetings
6 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be creating their own maps of a neighborhood they are designing themselves. They will also collect images (print from internet, or cut out from magazines, or draw things themselves.) Students can post their work to the classroom page or share in class if there is time for feedback. The homework is completely optional.Class Experience
Cities are made up of many smaller neighborhoods, districts, communities, each with their own identity. Cities are complex organisms that have many different parts working together. Let's learn what makes cities work! Over 8 weeks, learners will each create a design for a city district or neighborhood, making choices on different features and functions, locating them on their own maps that they create. Each week we will focus on learning about one aspect of cities and how it interconnects with other parts. Instructions and ideas for the project will be given each week so learners can continue adding to their design. For the last class, learners can present their neighborhood design projects to the class. Participating in the design of the built environment is an exciting, empowering endeavor for kids. Though the project in this class is for an imaginary, aspirational city, the goal is to give learners the knowledge and skills to notice more, analyze and engage in the world around them.
Learning Goals
Learners will gain an understanding of urban planning concepts.
Learners will apply their knowledge and creativity each week to design a neighborhood.
Syllabus
8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Urban Patterns
In our first lesson we learn how cities are defined by their street patterns and by natural features.
Project: Map making instructions and ideas will be given for learners to explore how to make a street pattern and incorporate a natural feature like a river, a shoreline or hills. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Transportation, Streets & Sidewalks
The second lesson is about how we get around in cities and all of the different modes of transportation there are. We consider how the design of streets, sidewalks, and bike lanes affects our experience.
Project: Learners will design a network of transportation in their city neighborhood. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Green Space & Public Space
In the third lesson we explore all the ways that green spaces and public spaces are important in cities- from having places to gather with friends and family to helping the city manage its stormwater.
Project: Save some space for green! Before learners add buildings to their map, we'll designate some unbuildable land for green and public space. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Districts, Zoning and Mixed Use
The fourth lesson is where we start to talk about types of buildings, and how some types are compatible with others and some are not. We explore how to make a mixed use neighborhood with places to work, play, learn and shop, all within a short walking distance.
Project: Neighborhoods have distinct identities. Learners will collect ideas about what characteristics their neighborhood will have. 50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Supply List
Drawing paper and tracing paper for map-making. Pencils, markers, colored pencils.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined January, 2020
4.9
154reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have a Masters in Urban Planning, and a Bachelors degree in Architecture, and I am a licensed architect in New York State. I have traveled to countless cities on five continents for study, research and for my own exploration. I love exploring cities!Reviews
Live Group Course
$160
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
50 min
Completed by 24 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-14
4-12 learners per class
