Course Name: Theory of Urban Planning and Design
(ARC 201)
Academic Year: 2024-2025
Instructor: Pisith HUN (MSc.)
This module introduces the fundamental theories of urban planning and design, equipping students with the analytical tools to understand cities at a macro scale and their relationship to architectural interventions. Through seminars, discussions, and presentations, the course explores the definition and historical evolution of cities, core principles of land use and transportation planning, and key urban design methodologies. Students will examine how urban form is shaped by both theoretical frameworks—drawing on seminal works by Lynch, Jacobs, Le Corbusier, and others—and empirical evidence from real-world case studies. By engaging with these concepts, the course fosters critical thinking about the forces that structure urban environments and prepares students to apply these insights in design and planning contexts.
Despite an existing planning process, gaps in financing and technical capacity often lead to bottlenecks in the development of urban, spatial and land use plans, especially at the Khan and Sangkat levels. Borei plays such a major role shaping the urban pattern and development of the Phnom Penh urbanization. More than 200 Borei is developing and
developed in the capital during the last decades. This trending on the pattern does not show a sign of stopping soon, due to the increase of population, the seeking quality of life, privacy and security zone.
As an urban designer, who care much the quality of people’s lives, student are asked to provide strategic plan to strengthen the quality of Borei and make use of it to full potential. The proposal should lead to a well-planned gated community allow the socio-economic benefits of urbanization to be fully
harnessed and can create vibrant, livable, and quality urban spaces.
