Topic outline

  • General


    The course will take place in periods IV and V, on Wednesdays 16.15–18h, and on intensive days during 11.–13.4.2022.

    This spring, the focus of the course will be on planetary liveability to address the recent national and municipal level goals of carbon negativity. Consensus on the definition of carbon negative cities is still missing and planning practices for reaching these goals have not yet been established. Consequently, the course will address questions like: What does carbon negativity in cities and planning entail? How and why to address carbon negativity on the human scale of cities and beyond? How and why to assess the policies and actions that aim for carbon negativity? And how could digital tools and methods support (or not support) the planning of carbon negative cities?

    During the course, these questions are iteratively approached through in-class dialogues and five interrelated assignments with a case of Carbon Negative Östersundom. In the hands-on assignments, we will learn to cope with the uncertainties in available planning data and to consider the reliability of the available methods. The selection of lectures is planned to offer a diversity of insights into the overall theme. The course is organized in collaboration with the City of Helsinki and Spacemaker.

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  • Schedule

    • Onsite session 2.3.2022. Introduction to the course
      Lecture: Susa Eräranta.
      Expectations survey.
      Assignment A1 (Reflective essay) starts.
    • Online session 9.3.2022. Planetary liveability and carbon negativity
      Lecture: Kaisa-Reeta Koskinen, Head of climate unit, City of Helsinki.
      Assignment A2 (The conceptualization of carbon negative area) starts.
    • Online session 16.3.2022. Digitizing planning practice and smart cities
      Lecture: Christina Suomi, Head of strategic urban planning unit, City of Helsinki.
      Tutoring available.
    • Online session 23.3.2022. What’s the ‘planning’ that needs to be ‘supported’ – diving into complexities and urban systems
      Lecture: Susa Eräranta.
      Tutoring available.
    • Onsite session 30.3.2022. Presentations and peer reflection of assignment A2
      Assignment A3 (The assessment framework of carbon negative area) starts
    • Onsite session 6.4.2022. Scaling liveability - Whose liveability are we talking about?
      Lecture: Milos Mladenovic, Assistant professor, Aalto University.
      Tutoring available.

    • Onsite session 11.4.2022. INTENSIVE DAY 9–15. Smart and liveable planning policies in action
      Lecture: Aija Staffans, Senior Research Fellow, Aalto University.
      Assignment A4 (Carbon negative planning policies) starts.
      Tutoring available
    • Online session 12.4.2022. INTENSIVE DAY 9–11.15. Virtual site visit to Östersundom case area
      Lecture: Katri Backman, Urban Planner, City of Helsinki
      Helsinki 3D City Information Model site visit
    • Onsite session 13.4.2022. INTENSIVE DAY 9–15 Smart and liveable planning on a detailed scale
      Lecture: Jussi Partanen, Architect, City of Espoo.
      Lecture: Marketta Kyttä, Professor, Aalto University.
      Presentations and peer reflection of assignment A3. 
      Tutoring available.

    • Online session 20.4.2022. Professional ethics of smart and liveable planning
      Lecture: Susa Eräranta.
      Tutoring available.
    • Onsite session 27.4.2022. Introduction to Spacemaker for assignment A5
      Lecture: Raoul Lindberg, Solution Consultant, Spacemaker
      Tutoring available.
    • Onsite session 4.5.2022. Presentations and peer reflection of assignment A4
      Assignment A5 (Carbon negative detailed planning studies in 3D) starts.
    • Onsite session 11.5.2022.
      Tutoring available
    • Onsite session in Väre (M101) 18.5.2022. Co-creating liveability with digital methods
      Lecture: Petri Kangassalo, Doctoral candidate, Aalto University
    • Onsite session 25.5.2022.
      Tutoring available 
    • Onsite session 1.6.2022. Final presentations, closing and reflections
      Findings and presentations: A2–A5.

  • Assignments

    During the course, the theme of smart and liveable planning will be approached through in-class dialogues and five interrelated assignments with a case of Carbon Negative Östersundom. In the hands-on assignments, we will learn to cope with the uncertainties in available planning data and to consider the reliability of the available methods.

    • A1 Reflective essay (15%)
      Individual assignment.
      Starts: 2.3.2022.
      Final DL: 7.6.2022 at 23:59.
    • A2 The conceptualization of carbon negative area (20%)
      Group assignment with Kumu.
      Starts: 9.3.2022.
      DL for peer reflection: 29.3.2022 at 23:59.
      Final DL: 31.5.2022 at 23:59.
    • A3 The assessment framework of carbon negative area (20%)
      Group assignment.
      Starts: 30.3.2022.
      DL for peer reflection: 12.4.2022 at 23:59.
      Final DL: 31.5.2022 at 23:59.
    • A4 Carbon negative planning policies (20%)
      Group assignment.
      Starts: 11.4.2022.
      DL for peer reflection: 3.5.2022 at 23:59.
      Final DL after iterations: 31.5.2022 at 23:59.
    • A5 Carbon negative detailed planning studies in 3D (25%)
      Individual + pair assignment with Spacemaker.ai.
      Starts: 4.5.2022.
      Final DL: 31.5.2022 at 23:59.

    To be able to make use the feedback and learnings already during the course, You will have time for voluntary iterations for assignments A2–A4 before the final submission date. You are not expected to iterate, but are most welcome to do so.

  • Course Materials

    Not available unless any of:
    • You belong to L01 (SISU)
    • You belong to M01 (SISU)