Urbanheart surgery - a logic of design alternatives

In 1972 Sir Leslie Martin in his essay “<i>The Grid as Generator</i>”, advocated “<i>a strong theoretical basis for</i> [planning and] <i>urban design</i>” (Carolin P, 2000, p4) by methodically shifting design parameters regarding the way “<i>in which buildings </i>[could be] <i>placed on the land</i>” Martin was able to demonstrate how the generation of alternatives could “<i>allow wider scope for decisions and objectives</i>” to be considered and discussed (Carmona M, & Tiesdell S 2007, p81). Operating within a conventional design studio yet drawing of Sir Leslie Martin’s logic, ie developing an informed understanding of a problem by identifying a finite world of design ‘alternatives’, the following paper outlines a studio based program at the School of Architecture and Building, Deakin University, referred to as the ‘UrbanHeart Surgery’. While most atelier-based courses operate largely on an ad-hoc basis where students often work within self imposed competitive isolation, Urbanheart adopts a more open yet structured approach where students work in design collaboratives to generate a matrix of alternative design scenarios. The program actively integrates postgraduate students from Architecture, Urban Design and Planning into a design research culture and allows them to engage in critical discourse by working on strategic design projects in three areas significant to the future development of the state of Victoria: Metropolitan Urbanism, Urbanism on the Periphery and Regional Urbanism.