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The American City, Part 3: Learning from the Grid

This course demonstrates the well-defined formal composition and spatial processes of how American cities evolve over time.

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Course Info

  • Duration 10 video lessons (53 Mins)
  • Published Published
  • 4.16
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Browse Course Chapters

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    1.
    Introduction
    Chapter Duration 3 mins
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    2.
    Street Extension
    Chapter Duration 3 mins
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    3.
    The Shifting Center
    Chapter Duration 7 mins
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    4.
    Grid Deformation
    Chapter Duration 3 mins
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    5.
    Block Manipulation
    Chapter Duration 5 mins
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    6.
    Principle of Centrality and Linearity
    Chapter Duration 6 mins
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    7.
    When Is a Door More Than a Door?
    Chapter Duration 8 mins
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    8.
    Leapfrog Development
    Chapter Duration 5 mins
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    9.
    Discrete Separation
    Chapter Duration 6 mins
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    10.
    The Block, Street, and Network
    Chapter Duration 2 mins

Course Description

The course is about the formal composition and spatial process of the American urban grid. The course demonstrates a well-defined spatial logic to how American cities tend to evolve over time, conserving the importance of the "center" (e.g., historical area and/or Central Business District) in relation to the ever-expanding edges. By understanding these concepts, we can better understand how "bedrock" urban attributes (such as block size and dwelling entrances) and common growth trends (such as strip malls and leapfrog development) play a role in the spatial logic of American cities.

The objective of this course is to better understand the spatial implications of design decisions when intervening in the American city.

Learn these skills

  • History
  • Land Use
  • Pedestrian Planning
  • Plan Making
  • Transportation
  • Urban Design
  • Walkability
  • Zoning Codes

AICP CM

This course is approved for 1 AICP CM credit

AIA CES

This is 1 LU.

Meet Your Instructor

Mark David Major

Mark David Major

Dr. Mark David Major, AICP, CNU-A is a Professor of Urban Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

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