Fundamentals of Urbanism: Designing Liveable Cities

Our cities are growing rapidly, yet many struggle to provide safe, healthy, and accessible spaces for their residents. Understanding how cities function and how to design them for people is the key to creating resilient communities. This text-based course guides you through the foundational principles of urban planning, teaching you how to evaluate streetscapes, public spaces, and local infrastructure. By reading through real-world scenarios and analyzing urban layouts, you will develop the critical skills needed to understand and advocate for vibrant, inclusive, and eco-friendly neighborhoods. What you'll learn: - Understand the core concepts of urban design, zoning, and the history of city development. - Analyze public spaces to evaluate their accessibility, safety, and community integration. - Explore modern sustainable frameworks, including the 15-minute city concept and green infrastructure. - Evaluate active transportation networks that prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit. - Apply tactical urbanism principles to propose low-cost, high-impact neighborhood improvements. - Identify the social and economic factors that make urban environments culturally vibrant and inclusive. You will begin by mastering essential urban planning terminology and historical foundations before moving on to modern design strategies, sustainable mobility, and community-led initiatives. This program is designed for absolute beginners, local advocates, and aspiring designers with no prior background in architecture or engineering. Read on to start exploring how we can build better, more human-centric cities together.