Understanding the Residential back alleys Alleys are often forgotten spaces in an urban setting that holds a sense of drama with the nature of linearity.  This blog discusses about, how transforming the back alleyways of terraced housing in the UK could lead to a creation of community driven, environmentally attractive zone for mental health and well-being. As we all know, currently  the back alley ways of Victorian/ Georgian terrace housing serves the purpose of disposing household waste. Alleys accumulated with utility bins, leaves the space isolated from human involvement most of ..read more

Published by Georgina Walker on 28 March 2024   Getting Started Throughout the semester the module has focussed on self-directed meetings, peer-reviewing blogs, academic insights and gaining experience with the use of a short form content method of academic expression. As a MArch student, I have thoroughly enjoyed gaining knowledge and experience in urban design at Newcastle University. Understanding the urban environment is critical in creating successful architectural proposals, therefore, incorporating this module into my architectural career was essential in my development.   Stu ..read more

What is gender mainstreaming? Image1: Women and man in the station( Svyatoslav Lypynskyy, Dorina Pojani) Picture two scenarios: In one, you’re a dad commuting to work. You drive or take the train, go to work, and then, head home. In the other, Imagine you’re a mother with a small child, navigating a metro station with a stroller. You carefully steer clear of dimly lit areas while entertaining your child. After dropping off your child at daycare, you catch another train to work. Later, you take a tram to accompany your father to a doctor’s appointment, then return to his home and take a bu ..read more

Figure 1: Newham’s New Residential Plan Source: Newham City Council (2024) In the urban design world, residential area plays an important role. It is not simply described as clusters of houses anymore, not if we want to make them more resilient for the future use. It needs to be able to shape the environment’s functionality of spaces and the residents’ well-being. If the thought of housings being monotonous as a place to rest, it is outdated, and we need to rethink about it. One of the important keys of designing a residential area is the concept of diversity with mixed-use development, accor ..read more

The health and wellbeing aspects of human plays a pivotal role in architecture and urban design and it has been an interesting subject in decades. Though the designing approach is based on human needs, it sometimes makes our health and wellbeing at risk. This article explains about the paradox of urban design and health and wellbeing of the city dwellers. Introduction The infrastructure development has been increasing all across the globe and it is more focused on the transport and building facilities that provide people with effectivity. This is not all true because the vehicle-focused design ..read more

Studying urban design is a deeply personal journey for me, derived from my fascination in the built environment and how to contribute meaningfully to the design of the city itself. These are my commitments on the program: Curiosity and Observation From a young age, I have been captivated by the architecture of the cities around me. The streets, the different architectural styles, the connection between human and the built environment sparked my curiosity about how urban spaces can influence our lives. Passion for Creativity I can get drowned in my own thoughts about how the cities should b ..read more

First Contact After entering the urban design major, I came into contact with the blog production course for the first time. I had never taken a similar course before, and I only published some personal blogs as a hobby. Studying this course is a novel experience for me. I gained a lot of knowledge by participating in the class and communicating with my classmates. Reward When I first started making a blog, I didn’t know where to start, but remembering the views raised by my classmates and teachers in class, I started collecting information and looking for relevant papers and pictures, as well ..read more

2023 is truly a memorable year for me. I started quitting my job at my old studio, focusing my time and effort on learning English and preparing my application for a master’s degree abroad. Finally all my efforts paid off when I was accepted to Newcastle University. Everything happened quite quickly, and I easily adapted to keep up with my new life here. Even though only one semester has passed, I have had many memorable experiences. The first times When I first arrived, I was quite confused with new things at the university: from teaching methods, project work to different ways of thinking ab ..read more

In the realm of urban planning and community development, the pursuit of excellence has given rise to a rare breed of public spaces – the 5-star destinations that transcend functionality to become vibrant hubs of social, cultural, and recreational. These spaces serve as the beating heart of our communities, fostering connections, promoting well-being, and contributing to the overall vitality of a city. What makes a 5-star public space ? Accessibility and Inclusivity A hallmark of any exceptional public space is its accessibility to all members of the community. From ramps and elevators for ind ..read more

Ice Breaking_ILYEOB(c2039741) Opportunities and challenges of urban design in reflecting regional identity.   If I am asked by someone what urban design, architecture are to me, I would say, “It is nostalgia”. Christian norberg-schulz said: “To dwell means to belong to a given place”. It is the architecture and urban design I am thinking of. As an architecture the place to which the users become interested and attached is as important as the good-content architecture. I would like to become an architect who creates something special for people in their everyday life in urban settings. &nb ..read more