• Check In: July 15
• First Day of Class: July 17
• Last Day of Class: August 17
• Check Out: August 18

This course examines principles of sustainability as they apply to urban areas.  We will explore several northern European cities (Stirling and Edinburg, Scotland; Freiburg, Germany; Aalborg and Odense, Denmark; Eskiltuna, Sweden), widely recognized for their efforts to become more sustainable.  We will explore innovations such as: compact, mixed use, transit, and pedestrian oriented planning; energy and water use reduction; alternative energy sources and recycling, reduction in solid waste, green building, and pollution reduction and restoration.  We will study sustainable measures and how to quickly “read” cities and recognize how they function.  We will gain insights into how European communities have embraced sustainable concepts and learn how to translate these lessons to US cities.  In each community, we will: 1) Take a walking (or biking) tour of key parts of the city; 2) Take specialized tours of innovative places and features (some of these will be led by the instructors and others by local officials); and 3) Interview key officials to find out more about the community’s efforts.  Students will select one sustainable topic (such as urban transit or solar energy) and do a comparison of cities; and look at one city in-depth.  Students will also develop a photo-journal and sketchbook.

Other programs of similar interest:

• Housing and Community Development
• Community Development and Governance in the European Union

Courses

This program carries a total of 8 units. Enrolled students must take 8 units of Landscape Architecture 191 OR 4 units of Landscape Architecture 191 AND 4 units of Environmental Science and Policy 173.  Graduate students may take 4 units of Landscape Architecture 297 and 4 units of 298.  Auditing is not an option.

• Landscape Architecture 191 (4 units or 8 units)
  Workshop in Landscape Architecture
  Faculty initiated workshops featuring advanced studies and applications of original work in landscape architecture.
  Prerequisite: courses 1, 70, and 170 or consent of instructor.
  GE credit: None

• Environmental Science and Policy 173 (4 units or 0 units)
  Land Use and Growth Controls
  Exposes students to the economic, political and legal factors affecting land use and growth controls, and helps students critically evaluate written materials in terms of their arguments and supporting data.  Prerequisite: Political Science 1, Economics 1A, intermediate statistics, and local government.
  GE credit: None

Alternative for graduate students

• Landscape Architecture 297 (4 units)
• Landscape Architecture 298 (4 units)

Course Requirements

The course will involve some lecture, particularly at the beginning to understand the basic definitions and principles of sustainable cities, how we can measure sustainable progress and how to quickly “read” an urban area and understand how it functions.  The class will also involve considerable discussion about what students are seeing in these cities (and hearing from their interviews), to what degree these innovations are sustainable (and why); and whether any of these ideas are transferable to the U.S. (and how they might “translate”).  Part of that answer lies in a broad understanding of the differences in land use and resource laws, as well as culture differences, which we will discuss.  The most significant part of the class will be a series of field trips in each of the cities, augmented with map analysis, talks by local officials and interviews.  Some of the field trips will be carefully structured and programmed and often led by local officials or experts (such as the Sustainable Sweden program).  Other field trips will be less structured and rely on the students to explore the cities on foot and via transit and understand how the urban area functions.  A key component of the class will be detailed field journals (that each student will keep) that will include notes and sketches/diagrams, as well as photo record of key projects, planning and design ideas. Each week, students will consult with one of the instructors on their ideas and observations. Another key component of the class will be two analytical papers or projects: one looking at one of the cities comprehensively; and a second looking at one aspect of sustainability (for example, energy use) and comparing the four cities. We are likely to do the papers in groups of two to increase synergy and collaboration.

Course Grading                                                                                            

Required Texts

• Reader (provided by Summer Abroad)
• Beatley, T.  Green Urbanism: Learning from European Cities.  Island Press, 1999.  ISBN: 1-55963-682-3

Field Trips and Activities - subject to change

The following represents a draft calendar for the class showing potential dates, general topics that we will cover and readings that accompany the topics.  The schedule and topics may vary as we work through the course.  Once we have assembled in Scotland, the class will meet four days per week; with lecture and discussion (and some work time) typically in the morning (9 am-11:30 am) and field trips and analysis/interviews typically in the afternoons (1-4 pm).  This may vary by location and opportunities for field visits.

Accommodations - changed on February 12 due to transportation arrangements

Stirling, Scotland – University of Stirling. Students will share a flat with 3 to 4 other students. There is one double occupancy available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Freiburg, Germany – Katholisches Lehrlingsheim, double occupancy. Towels are NOT provided.
Hamburg, Germany - Le Meridian, one overnight here in route to Odense. Double occupancy with bathrooms in each room and satellite TV. Sheets and towels are provided with each room.
Odense, Denmark – Clarion Plaza Hotel, double occupancy with bathrooms in each room, cable TV and internet access. This hotel also has a swimming pool. Sheets and towels are provided. Move to Comfort Windsor hotel for one night.
Jonkoping, Sweden - Scandic Elmia, double occupancy with bathrooms in each room.
Stockholm, Sweden – 2kronor Hostel, http://www.2kronor.se/Studentgroups.htm. Students will share a room with 3 other students or a dormitory with up to 11 other students. Bathrooms are located in the corridor. Sheets and towels are included in the cost of your accommodation. The hostel is centrally located near Old Towne where you can find local shops and museums.

Meals

Stirling, Scotland – Meals are not included as students will have a kitchen in their flat.
Freiburg, Germany – Meals are not included.
Hamburg, Germany - Cold buffet breakfast. While traveling all other meals are the responsibility of the student.
Odense, Denmark – Breakfast is included. All other meals are the responsibility of the student.
Jonkoping, Sweden - Breakfast is included.
Stockholm, Sweden – Meals are not included, but there is a common kitchen to which students will have access.

Transportation - included in the cost of your Accommodations and Activities Fee

Edinburgh, Scotland to Frankfurt, Germany - air transportation
Frankfurt airport to Freiburg - chartered bus
Freiburg, Germany to Hamburg, Germany - chartered bus (estimated 10.5 hour drive)
Hamburg, Germany to Odense, Denmark - chartered bus (estimated 7 hour drive)
Odense, Denmarkto Jonkoping,Sweden - chartered bus (estimated 10 hour drive)
Jonkoping to Stockholm, Sweden - chartered bus (estimated 5 hour drive)

Fees

Fees for Summer Abroad include the Summer Abroad Program Fee, Course Unit Fee, and Accommodations and Activities Fee. The Accommodations and Activities Fee covers lodging, selected meals (if included), selected field trips, group accidental death & dismemberment and emergency health insurance, select publications, and additional program specific costs. Air fare is not included. All fees are subject to change.

* This fee level is based on the proposed 2007-08 governor's budget. The fees are subject to Regental, legislative, and gubernatorial action and may change without notice.