ARCH355 Advanced Urban Design
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2026
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Architecture
Adi Ćorović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The aim of this course is to advance students’ knowledge and practical skills in the field of urban design by building upon previously acquired knowledge of architecture, urban morphology, public space, streets, blocks, mobility systems, landscape, and the relationship between buildings and the wider urban context. The course focuses on understanding urban design as an integrated process that connects spatial structure, public space, movement, built form, landscape, environmental conditions, cultural heritage, social needs, and institutional context. Through theoretical lectures, case-study analysis, field observation, mapping, studio exercises, and project work, students will learn how to analyze an urban area, identify its key problems, values and potentials, formulate an urban diagnosis, and translate this understanding into an urban design strategy and spatial proposal. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between analysis and design, on human-scale and context-sensitive urbanism, and on the practical application and critical evaluation of the Principles of Intelligent Urbanism. The course also develops students’ ability to work collaboratively while maintaining clearly identifiable individual contributions, and to communicate urban design ideas through maps, diagrams, plans, sections, elevations, sketches, axonometric drawings, visualizations, written arguments, and oral presentations. The overall course process follows the sequence: Observation → Analysis → Diagnosis → Objectives → Strategy → Design → Evaluation
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Jon Lang. Urban Design: A Typology of Procedures and Products. 2nd edition. Routledge, 2017. Christopher Charles Benninger. 10 Principles of Intelligent Urbanism in City Planning and Urban Design. Entrepreneurial Urbanism & Design / Leneurbanity, 2015. Kevin Lynch. The Image of the City. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1960.
Additional Literature
Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Decision for designation of the Architectural Ensemble – Townscape Ensemble Sarajevo Čaršija as a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted at the session held from 1–3 April 2014. Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Decision on the designation of the Architectural Ensemble – Housing Estate “Crni Vrh” in Sarajevo as a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted at the session held from 26–28 March 2012. Selected urban planning documents, historical plans, spatial data, heritage documentation, maps, and site-specific studies relevant to the Final Project location. Selected contemporary and historical urban design case studies introduced during lectures and studio work.Teaching Methods
Lectures – introduction of key concepts, theories, and contemporary approaches in urban design
Studio-Based Learning – individual and team-based urban analysis, design exercises, and project development
Case Study Analysis – critical review of selected urban design projects and relevant local and international examples
Field Observation and Site Visits – on-site analysis, documentation, and discussion of urban conditions
Student Presentations and Discussions – presentation of analytical and design work, peer discussion, and critical reflection
Desk Critiques and Tutorials – regular feedback on project development during studio sessions
Independent Study and Short Written Assignments – reading responses, precedent studies, and short analytical tasks related to urban design topics
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction + Reading the City, presentation of the Syllabus and expectations | Lang (2017), pp. 1–20; Lynch (1960), pp. 1–13 |
| 2 | Reading and Analyzing the City | Lynch (1960), pp. 46–90 |
| 3 📍 | Principles of Intelligent Urbanism | Benninger (2015) |
| 4 | Urban Design Processes and Procedures + Studio Exercise 1 – 10% | Lang (2017), pp. 36–45 |
| 5 | An Evolving Typology of Urban Design Projects. | Lang (2017), pp. 47–48; 55–62 |
| 6 | Public Realm, Streets, Squares, Parks and Human Scale. | Lang (2017), pp. 64–80 |
| 7 | rom Urban Diagnosis to Design Strategy + Midterm Preparation. | Lang (2017), pp. 83–98 |
| 8 | Midterm exam 30% | Review Weeks 1–7 |
| 9 | Site Visit + Context and Urban Analysis. | Lynch (1960), pp. 140–159 + site document |
| 10 | Final Project: Diagnosis + Urban Design Strategy. | Lang (2017), pp. 105–127 |
| 11 | Urban Design Concept Plan. | Lang (2017), pp. 130–141 + selected case study |
| 12 | Precedents and Urban Design Language + Studio Exercise 2 – 5%. | Lang (2017), pp. 185–196 + selected case study |
| 13 | Final Project Development: Urban Form in Three Dimensions. | Lang (2017), pp. 209–220 |
| 14 | Urban Detail + Individual Intervention. | Lang (2017), pp. 225–230 |
| 15 | Final Project Development + Pre-Final Review. | Review / project-specific readings |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH355.1 | Course | Tuesday 15:00 - 16:50 | A F3.8 - Big Architecture Studio | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : LO1 LO2
Class Exercises
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : LO1 LO2
Mid-term Exam and presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : LO1 LO2
Activity
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : LO1 LO2
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 4 ECTS credit course corresponds to 100 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Exercises : Indiv/Groups
20 hours ⏳ (4 week × 5 h)
Home study
7 hours ⏳ (7 week × 1 h)
Mid-term Exam Preparation
18 hours ⏳ (2 week × 9 h)
Final Exam and Project
27 hours ⏳ (9 week × 3 h)
100 Total Workload Hours
4 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [ARCH355] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Oct 10, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ARCH355 | Advanced Urban Design | 1 | 1 | 4 | TUE 15:00 - 16:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | Senior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Adi Ćorović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 10:00-14:00 ARCH302, ARCH405, ARCH401 |
|||||||
| acorovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The aim of this course is to advance students’ knowledge and practical skills in the field of urban design by building upon previously acquired knowledge of architecture, urban morphology, public space, streets, blocks, mobility systems, landscape, and the relationship between buildings and the wider urban context. The course focuses on understanding urban design as an integrated process that connects spatial structure, public space, movement, built form, landscape, environmental conditions, cultural heritage, social needs, and institutional context. Through theoretical lectures, case-study analysis, field observation, mapping, studio exercises, and project work, students will learn how to analyze an urban area, identify its key problems, values and potentials, formulate an urban diagnosis, and translate this understanding into an urban design strategy and spatial proposal. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between analysis and design, on human-scale and context-sensitive urbanism, and on the practical application and critical evaluation of the Principles of Intelligent Urbanism. The course also develops students’ ability to work collaboratively while maintaining clearly identifiable individual contributions, and to communicate urban design ideas through maps, diagrams, plans, sections, elevations, sketches, axonometric drawings, visualizations, written arguments, and oral presentations. The overall course process follows the sequence: Observation → Analysis → Diagnosis → Objectives → Strategy → Design → Evaluation |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Jon Lang. Urban Design: A Typology of Procedures and Products. 2nd edition. Routledge, 2017. Christopher Charles Benninger. 10 Principles of Intelligent Urbanism in City Planning and Urban Design. Entrepreneurial Urbanism & Design / Leneurbanity, 2015. Kevin Lynch. The Image of the City. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1960. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | Lectures – introduction of key concepts, theories, and contemporary approaches in urban design. Studio-Based Learning – individual and team-based urban analysis, design exercises, and project development. Case Study Analysis – critical review of selected urban design projects and relevant local and international examples. Field Observation and Site Visits – on-site analysis, documentation, and discussion of urban conditions. Student Presentations and Discussions – presentation of analytical and design work, peer discussion, and critical reflection. Desk Critiques and Tutorials – regular feedback on project development during studio sessions. Independent Study and Short Written Assignments – reading responses, precedent studies, and short analytical tasks related to urban design topics. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course Introduction + Reading the City, presentation of the Syllabus and expectations | Lang (2017), pp. 1–20; Lynch (1960), pp. 1–13 | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Reading and Analyzing the City | Lynch (1960), pp. 46–90 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Principles of Intelligent Urbanism | Benninger (2015) | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Urban Design Processes and Procedures + Studio Exercise 1 – 10% | Lang (2017), pp. 36–45 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | An Evolving Typology of Urban Design Projects. | Lang (2017), pp. 47–48; 55–62 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Public Realm, Streets, Squares, Parks and Human Scale. | Lang (2017), pp. 64–80 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | rom Urban Diagnosis to Design Strategy + Midterm Preparation. | Lang (2017), pp. 83–98 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam 30% | Review Weeks 1–7 | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Site Visit + Context and Urban Analysis. | Lynch (1960), pp. 140–159 + site document | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Final Project: Diagnosis + Urban Design Strategy. | Lang (2017), pp. 105–127 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Urban Design Concept Plan. | Lang (2017), pp. 130–141 + selected case study | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Precedents and Urban Design Language + Studio Exercise 2 – 5%. | Lang (2017), pp. 185–196 + selected case study | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Final Project Development: Urban Form in Three Dimensions. | Lang (2017), pp. 209–220 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Urban Detail + Individual Intervention. | Lang (2017), pp. 225–230 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Final Project Development + Pre-Final Review. | Review / project-specific readings | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Presentation | 1 | 45 | LO1, LO2 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Class Exercises | 2 | 15 | LO1, LO2 | Not Allowed | |
| Mid-term Exam and presentation | 1 | 30 | LO1, LO2 | Not Allowed | |
| Activity | 1 | 10 | LO1, LO2 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 2 | 14 | 28 | Exercises : Indiv/Groups | 5 | 4 | 20 | |||
| Home study | 1 | 7 | 7 | Mid-term Exam Preparation | 9 | 2 | 18 | |||
| Final Exam and Project | 3 | 9 | 27 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 100 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 4 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 01/10/2026 | |||||||||