Asian Urbanism:
Mapping the Micro Landscapes of Tokyo & Taipei
2007 Exploration Seminar in Taiwan & Japan

**THIS PROGRAM IS FULL AND NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS**

Program Director: Jeff Hou, Landscape Architecture
Dates of Instruction: August 21-September 14

Dense, compact, hybrid and dynamic are words often used in characterizing the urban landscapes of Asian cities. The fluid matrix of social life, urban spaces, and mass transportation along with proximity of activities and services clearly distinguishes the landscapes of major Asian cities from their North American counterparts. A closer understanding of the “design” of Asian cities can provide us with a better understanding of urban livability under different spatial, institutional, and cultural frameworks. It would also enable us to critique the paradigm of urban planning and design under the recent Western traditions and engage in more meaningful international and cross-cultural comparisons.

This traveling seminar (click for instructor's course website) will bring students on an in-depth, on-the-ground examination of two East Asian metropoleis—Taipei and Tokyo. Known for dense neighborhoods, dynamic urban life, and overlays of historical and contemporary influences, Taipei and Tokyo together provide a gateway for investigating and comparing the nuances of urban life in Asia. The course will use “mapping” as a primary tool of analysis in examining the urban characteristics in selected locations within the two cities. Daily activities include guided tours, on-site mapping exercises, guest presentations, and interactions with the local designers and planners. Weekend activities include excursions to nearby sites and cities.

The course will spend the early portion in Taipei, exploring the issues of density, scale, threshold, and fluidity of activities while developing methods of understanding and documenting the phenomena. This will be followed by one week in Tokyo in which similar methods are applied to examine the urban settings and activities. Through the seminar, students will be living in the environment they study which provides a transformative experience for rethinking cities and urbanism.

Participants will earn 5 credits of L ARCH 495, Landscape Architecture Studies Abroad, or CHID 471 Asia Study Abroad.  Participants should check with their advisors to determine how these credits can count towards departmental requirements.

Student costs:  
$2,225 Program Fee
$200 IPE Fee
Additional costs include: round trip travel to Taipei and Tokyo, health insurance, meals, course materials and personal expenses.

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