ABSTRACT
Urban design theory has a unique relationship to practice. Its role is not simply to raise awareness and inform approaches, but also, and importantly, to inspire and to provide a rationale and support for innovative responses to the present-day spatial and social problems in cities and its urban environments. In this context, there are at least three characteristics that one would expect to find in urban design theory. First, any theoretical approach to the design of the urban socio-spatial environment would need to be critical; reflecting upon the state of the art (Marshall 2012). Second, it would need to be informed by an underlying engagement with aesthetics (broadly defined as our sensoriemotional experiences) (Wunderlich 2013) and reflect in particular on what influences a sense of quality in the urban environment (Carmona and Sieh 2004). Third, it would need to be methodological and purposeful to enable it to influence practice, ultimately fostering change and innovation in design products, practices and delivery processes. What distinguishes urban design theory from other social sciences and humanities theory (e.g. within urban human
geography, anthropology and other urban critical studies), are the latter two aspects – its aesthetic foundation(s) and the methodological perspective(s). These are innately related and it is here where urban design theory and practice meet.
