University of California - Davis: Sustainable Cities of Northern Europe

This program examines the features, systems, and designs for sustainable cities ranging from transit, bike and ped circulation to renewable energy systems to waste management, land use, and urban planning and design. Relying on lectures, field trips, bike tours, guest speakers, design and planning problems, and reading-the-city exercises, the program shows what lessons can be taken from Europe back to U.S. cities. We will visit 8-10 cities—large and small—in 4 countries that have demonstrated a commitment and success in becoming more sustainable; this includes looking in-depth at various deliberate eco-districts and neighborhoods like Vauban, Rieselfeld, Trekonner, Vestra Hamnen, Sjostad, and Hammarby in places like Stockholm, Copenhagen, Malmo, Bremen, Freiburg, Lucerne, and elsewhere. The importance of strong urban planning principles and strong urban design approaches is studied throughout the summer.

In each community, we will: (1) take a walking (and biking) tour of key parts of the city; (2) take specialized tours of innovative places, neighborhoods, and facilities often by testing local public transit convenience; (3) learn from local officials and scholars about the country, region or community’s efforts; and (4) complete a series of hands on field exercises in urban design and sustainable planning. Students will keep an active journal and photo-diary; and develop a paper on a sustainability topic of the student’s choice, as well as learn to "read" the city through design exercises.