Critical Readings in the Theory and History of Planning

The course suggests a new reading in the history and the theory of modern urban planning, injecting critical themes of the 21st century into the canonized story of planning. Exploring the development of town planning in the western world, since the end of the 19th century until today, we will examine the main theories that compose it and study the classical writings and plans of those who have been termed ‘the fathers’ of the modern discipline. We will follow this development chronologically, examining the dominant theories along the way and their various appearances, mainly in Europe and also across the former empires. The students will be asked to submit reading reports on four of the theoretical pieces we will be reading together. The final assignment will be a written critical analysis of a contemporary published paper in planning theory. The students will be asked to submit reading reports on four of the theoretical pieces we will be reading together. The final assignment will be a written critical analysis of a contemporary published paper in planning theory.