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9.00 credits
60.0 h + 45.0 h
Q1
Language
French
Content
This urban planning studio takes place in the context of international interuniversity collaboration, either through the invitation of international partners to Belgium or by sending students abroad. The aim is to enable students to consolidate their knowledge, methods, and skills by working with teachers and students from different backgrounds.
The goal of this studio is to teach students how to design co-creation processes and methods that integrate and articulate the visions, issues, resources, capacities, and timelines of the multiple categories of stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of an urban and territorial project in a dense and complex urban context. Particular attention will be paid to field surveys; the creation and communication of shared documentary resources (especially in cartographic form); the development of co-design tools (both online and in person); the organization and management of multi-stakeholder dialogues; the analysis of antagonisms and blockages; and the design of projects fostering new synergies and capacities for action in order to achieve sustainable and inclusive urban development goals.
In 2025–26, the studio will focus on the development of “calm neighborhoods” (quartiers apaisés) in Brussels. Calm neighborhoods are areas where car traffic in public spaces is significantly reduced in order to promote active modes of transport, strengthen ecological networks, and encourage other social uses of public space. Following the controversies that halted the implementation of this concept—originally foreseen in the regional mobility plan—the studio will aim to identify and objectify the blocking factors and to explore local opportunities and participatory methods that could help reactivate the implementation process.
The goal of this studio is to teach students how to design co-creation processes and methods that integrate and articulate the visions, issues, resources, capacities, and timelines of the multiple categories of stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of an urban and territorial project in a dense and complex urban context. Particular attention will be paid to field surveys; the creation and communication of shared documentary resources (especially in cartographic form); the development of co-design tools (both online and in person); the organization and management of multi-stakeholder dialogues; the analysis of antagonisms and blockages; and the design of projects fostering new synergies and capacities for action in order to achieve sustainable and inclusive urban development goals.
In 2025–26, the studio will focus on the development of “calm neighborhoods” (quartiers apaisés) in Brussels. Calm neighborhoods are areas where car traffic in public spaces is significantly reduced in order to promote active modes of transport, strengthen ecological networks, and encourage other social uses of public space. Following the controversies that halted the implementation of this concept—originally foreseen in the regional mobility plan—the studio will aim to identify and objectify the blocking factors and to explore local opportunities and participatory methods that could help reactivate the implementation process.
Teaching methods
The studio includes a one-week intensive workshop with international partners. Preparatory and follow-up sessions are organized before and after the workshop, either in person (for UCLouvain students only) or online (with the partners).
The sessions combine field visits, meetings with local stakeholders, documentary and mapping work, theoretical and methodological lectures, urban design workshops, oral and graphic presentations by the students, as well as communication and public participation exercises.
In addition, several sessions are dedicated to documenting and analyzing each student’s learning process, with the aim of producing a self-assessment portfolio.
The sessions organized jointly with international partners will be conducted in English (French friendly).
The sessions combine field visits, meetings with local stakeholders, documentary and mapping work, theoretical and methodological lectures, urban design workshops, oral and graphic presentations by the students, as well as communication and public participation exercises.
In addition, several sessions are dedicated to documenting and analyzing each student’s learning process, with the aim of producing a self-assessment portfolio.
The sessions organized jointly with international partners will be conducted in English (French friendly).
Evaluation methods
The evaluation consists of two components:
- Individual evaluation (50%): Assessment of the acquisition of knowledge, tools, methods, and critical autonomy, based on the maintenance of a studio logbook (continuous assessment) and a self-assessment portfolio submitted during the examination session.
- Group evaluation (50%):
- Quality of the work produced during the intensive international workshop, assessed by a jury composed of international partners and invited experts (30%).
- Relevance of the analyses and project proposals, as well as the quality of the graphic, oral, and written presentations developed during the studio sessions preceding and following the intensive workshop, assessed at the end of the semester by a jury composed of the course instructors and invited experts.(20%)
- Quality of the work produced during the intensive international workshop, assessed by a jury composed of international partners and invited experts (30%).
Faculty or entity
Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)
Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Master [120] in Urban Planning and Territorial Development
