The Urbanism Hour: Shaping Urban Design as a Technical Vocation
Exploring the 'why', 'who' and 'how' of urban design as a technical discipline
The Urbanism Hours are virtual lunch time events that explore a given theme within the built environment, with two speakers and a Q&A discussion. For March's Urbanism Hour we'll be joined by Philip Black and Michael Martin.
Philip and Michael will explore ‘why’ we design and ‘who’ we design for, with ‘how’ we design - discussing the importance of understanding urban design as a technical discipline requiring specific skills, experience and education. The session will unpack the functional blueprints, liveable qualities, contextual dynamics, and technical components of quality urban design, identifying the role of urban designers in shaping spaces and places across differing local contexts through a responsive and multi scalar approach - as set out in their 2025 book Applied Urban Design: A Contextually Responsive Approach (Routledge New York).
Speakers:
Dr Philip Black
Philip is Director of the Manchester Urban Design LAB (MUD-Lab) and Senior Lecturer in Urban Design and Head of Urban Design Programmes at the University of Manchester, UK. Philip has an extensive track record of research and publications on applied urban design with a particular focus on design quality, design control/governance, and urban design process and professional practice. He is the author of 2019 book The Urban Design Process, and co-author of 2025’s Applied Urban Design: A Contextually Responsive Approach, published by Routledge, New York.
Dr Michael Martin
Michael is a Lecturer in Urban Design and Planning and Director of Urban Design Programmes at the University of Sheffield, UK. Previously he was an Assistant Professor in Urban Design at Aalborg University, Denmark. Michael’s research and publications in urban design cover a range of themes specialising in child-friendly cities, sustainable mobility, urban regeneration, temporary urbanism, and placemaking processes. He is co-author of the 2025 book Applied Urban Design: A Contextually Responsive Approach, published by Routledge, New York.
This event is virtual and will take place via Zoom. You can find the Zoom link in your booking confirmation, and a reminder will also be sent out on the morning of the event.
