In a time of unprecedented global challenges, the need for sustainable and healthy cities has become more obvious. As the world is becoming increasingly aware of the fragility of our ecosystems, human and planetary health, there is a renewed urgency to explore urban design solutions that incorporate principles of social and environmental sustainability, as well as the capacity to adapt to societal changes.

The MSUD programme aims to address these challenges through rigorous research and design projects, focusing on the economic, cultural and regulatory processes that shape cities and the human interactions and experiences that constitute urban life. The courses engage with theoretical and scientific literature, international and regional case studies, and new advanced methods for the analysis, simulation and visualisation of urban areas.

The 16-month programme features a connected studio approach, using research and design scenarios to explore strategies for Hong Kong’s urban regeneration and development. Continuing our previous research agenda on the re-visioning of the “Northern Metropolis” developments, studio 1 and 2 will both focus on the Northern New Territories. Studio 1 will engage with existing towns and villages in this region, studying the collaborative social processes, function mixing and community structures that exist within the high-density urban fabric of Hong Kong. Studio 2 will continue this research through the design of a series of “new” new towns, incorporating existing settlements, landscapes and ecologies, and new types of mobility, social infrastructure and modes of living and working.

Using international case studies, field research and speculative urban design proposals, the studios explore new urban models for a healthy and sustainable future, while incorporating opportunities for community-led initiatives, entrepreneurialism and the improvement of our current and future urban environments.

For further details, please visit the programme website and download the study scheme.