Architectural Design and Urban Renewal: The Cuba Studio Approach

Designing vibrant, functional urban environments requires a deep understanding of local culture, existing structures, and community needs. This text-based course guides you through the core principles of architectural design and urban renewal using the rich, complex landscape of Havana as a foundational case study. You will progress from learning fundamental architectural vocabulary to analyzing how historic preservation, modern mixed-use development, and public spaces interact. By studying the balance between rehabilitating older structures and designing new ones, you will gain the conceptual tools needed to draft thoughtful urban design proposals. What you'll learn: - Understand the fundamentals of urban architectural design and site analysis. - Analyze the balance between building rehabilitation and new construction in historic districts. - Design mixed-use spaces that seamlessly integrate housing, commerce, and public areas. - Apply cultural and contextual research to inform architectural forms and community spaces. - Explore resilient design strategies for waterfront and neighborhood boundary zones. - Evaluate modern sustainable materials and adaptive reuse practices in urban renewal. The course begins with essential architectural terminology and site-planning concepts before moving into detailed readings on urban zoning, community-centric design, and structural rehabilitation. You will work through written design scenarios and case analyses that simulate real-world urban planning challenges. This course is designed for aspiring architects, urban planning enthusiasts, and design students looking for a structured introduction to mixed-use urban renewal, with no prior architectural drawing or software experience required. Start exploring the intersection of culture, history, and modern architecture today.