MSc Spatial Planning: study visit to Freiburg

On 21 March 2022 a group of students and staff from the MSc Spatial Planning set off from St Pancras station for a study visit to Freiburg, one of the fastest growing cities in Germany. Take a look at the links for more information on the places they visited. 

After the first night at the Super8 hotel and breakfast in a local bakery, the students were introduced to the topic investigation areas by Ilaria De Altin (an expert on the City of Freiburg). This was followed by a walking tour of Vauban - an area close to the city centre that provides sustainable living for more than 5,000 people. The tour was led by Andrea Philipp from Aiforia. 

In the afternoon the students discovered Rieselfeld. This is an area of to the west of Freiburg that has grown up since 1995 on a 70 hectare site - it's considered to be an urban planning and structural conception of exemplary character.

The next day (23 March) students were asked to research their group project in Freiburg and to prepare a presentation for the next day. This was followed by lunch for everyone in the Markthalle. In the afternoon the students visited the FORUM - a culture and community centre in Merzhausen. Students and staff had dinner at Omas Kueche.

On Thursday the students gave their presentations and then enjoyed lunch in the market on the Munsterplatz. Later on they had a meeting with Pieter van der Kooij from the municipal Urban Planning Department (Freiburg) at the City Hall. 

After a final night at the Super8, students and staff returned to Oxford on 25 March.

Field Trip to Dublin - November 2018

Students on the MSc Spatial Planning and the BA Urban Design, Planning and Development went on a field trip to Dublin in the middle of November 2018. The field trip gives students the opportunity to see how regeneration, planning and heritage conservation is carried out in a different country, giving them further insights into the different ways in which shared urban issues can be addressed and putting UK/English practice into context.

The trip in photos (thanks to Sue Brownill for these). Click on the blue links for more information...

The first morning: a guided walking tour of the Temple Bar area and a chance to look at
 the regeneration that has taken place there...

...and in the afternoon, a tour of Georgian Dublin.

Including those beautiful doors that Dublin is famous for.

The second day started with a walk around the Grangegorman Development Agency area...

 ...a new urban quarter being created in the north of the inner city.

In the afternoon the students went to Dublin Docklands...

...to find out more about the developments taking place..

The next day, the students spent time finding out more about the planning system in Ireland and visited some areas outside of Dublin. 

The final day and a guided tour of retail and commercial developments in the city centre...

...the tour and presentation was given by CBRE.

In the afternoon, a visit to 14 Henrietta Street...

...a museum that recreates the tenements of the past.

Cobbled streets and Georgian buildings in Dublin

For more information about the BA Urban Design, Planning and Development and the MSc Spatial Planning, take a look at our website:

BA Urban Design, Planning and Development
MSc Spatial Planning

Spatial Planning and Urban Design: presentations and models

It's coming up to the end of the (academic) year and the students are presenting their work. The main exhibition, the Urban Design End of Year Show 2018 will be held from 28 May - 29 June 2018 (more details on the main website). The photos that follow show the students on the MSc/PGD Spatial Planning presenting their work to their tutors and the array of models building up on the second floor...

Students on the MSc/PGD Spatial Planning presenting...

...and discussing their work.

A selection of models produced by first year students on the BA Urban Design, Planning and Development.

And models produced for the end of year show by students on the MArch taking the Urban Design option... 

These, and others will be on display at the end of year show.

For more information about the end of year show and the courses mentioned, please click on the links below:

Urban Design End of Year Show 2018
BA Urban Design, Planning and Development
MA Urban Design

Spatial Planning Field Trip to Lyon - November 2016

The postgraduate students in Spatial Planning (31 in total) went on a field trip to Lyon recently (from 14 to 18 November 2016). The field trip was designed to provide students with practical examples and experience of planning in another European country. Students (and staff) had a great time taking in the sights and learning from local academics and practitioners. Click on the blue links for more information.

The old part of Lyon is a UNESCO World Heritage site with some stunning buildings and vibrant colours (enhanced by the beautiful weather during the trip). The students visited the La Confluence regeneration project by the rivers Soane and Rhone and enjoyed spending a day working with students from Institut d'Urbanisme in Lyon. There was a group meal on the third evening which was followed by a cultural trip to the Beaujolais Festival 2016 in the centre of Lyon. Take a look at the itinerary and photos (courtesy of John Carnie)...

On Monday 14 November the students flew from Gatwick to Lyon, checked into their hotel and then walked via the river (Rhone) to the Lyon Institute of Planning (Institut d’Urbanisme de Lyon or IUL for short) for a presentation on Spatial Planning in Lyon, by Dr Roelof Verhage (Director of IUL).

The next day (Tuesday 15 November), the students went on an introductory walking tour of the city centre in the morning, visiting the St Jean Cathedral, Place Bellecour, and crossing over the Rhone and Saone Rivers. The students moved onto the Part Dieu district for lunch and a presentation on planning in Greater Lyon (Lyon Métropole), by Gilles Sabaterie, from Agence d’Urbanisme de Lyon. And now the photos from Tuesday...

On Wednesday 16 November the students visited IUL to work on projects in particular areas of the city, with some of the IUL students (in English). There were five sub-groups, looking at the following areas: Carré de Soie, Villeurbanne Gratte-Ciel, Part-Dieu, Croix Rousse - Bas des Pentes and La Duchère. This was followed by a group meal in the evening at Le Poêlon d'Or, a traditional Lyonnaise restaurant.

Thursday 17 November (and Beaujolais Nouveau Day). The students were off to the old part of Lyon for a walking tour and presentation with Philippe Lamy, Project Director, Mission Site Historique, Ville de Lyon. This was followed by a boat ride down the Saone from Vieux Lyon to La Confluence for a visit to La Confluence Visitor Centre, where the students saw a film and model, related to brownfield mixed use regeneration, and a walk through La Confluence. Take a walk through La Confluence yourself here.

The last day: Friday 18 November. The students went to the Lyon Metropole for a presentation at on Transport Planning in Lyon. Then there was some free time for a final look at Lyon before returning to the UK with plenty of new information and experiences.

For more information on Spatial Planning at Oxford Brookes, click here.