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11.310J / 4.243J Media Technology and City Design and Development

As taught in: Spring 2002

Level:

Undergraduate

Instructors:

Prof. Ceasar McDowell

Prof. Anne Whiston Spirn

Course Features

Course Highlights

Course Description

Mill Creek in Philadelphia. (Image courtesy of the EPA.)

Course Features

Projects and Examples

Course Highlights

This class is one of the earliest studios at MIT to carry on the work of the West Philadelphia Landscape Project started at the University of Pennsylvania. It contains a full description of the project in the syllabus, and examples of the student work in the projects section.

Course Description

This workshop explores the potential of media technology and the Internet to enhance communication and transform city design and community development in inner-city neighborhoods. The class introduces a variety of methods for describing or representing a place and its residents, for simulating actions and changes, for presenting visions of the future, and for engaging multiple actors in the process of envisioning change and guiding action. Students will engage two neighborhoods: the Mill Creek neighborhood of West Philadelphia, PA, and the Brightwood/Northend neighborhood of Springfield, MA. Students will meet real people working on real projects, put theory into practice, and reflect on insights gained in the process. Our hope is that student work will contribute to new initiatives in both communities.

The class Web site can be found here: Media Technology and City Design and Development. It is sponsored by the West Philadelphia Landscape Project and the Center for Reflective Community Practice.