School of Architecture

Crash Course – Human Settlements and Planning

Crash Course
Human Settlements and Planning
1.5 Months
Course Time frame:
(1st December 2017 – 17th February 2018)

Course Code: ARB 305*

Course Title: Human Settlement Planning

Department: Architecture

Albert J. Hefferan
Faculty Name:
ARF 10

Pre-requisites: None

Course Description:
This course is to enable the students to understand how and why humans settle in
the ways they do to form cities, along with how they grow and evolve throughout
the ages with the influence of technology and the natural elements.
Goals
To understand the evolution and application of the planning concepts for the
improvement of environment through which the betterment of human living and
welfare is achieved.
Objectives
The objective of this course is to enable the student to understand the past present
and future of the planning involved in human settlements. Thus knowledge of the
evolution and growth of human settlements in nature and its elements and the
various planning principles and theories that were followed by town planners
throughout history; knowledge about the housing conditions and the factors affecting
them in rural and urban India and the regulation of planning activities at various levels
along with the impact of planning decisions to enable the student to understand the
modern scenario of planning in the country along with an introduction to the futuristic
ideas of modern planning and development.
 School of Architecture
Crash Course – Human Settlements and Planning

Expected Outcomes:
On the completion of this course the student should:

 Have a comprehensive knowledge on the history and evolution of human

settlements,
 Have an understanding of the various theories that were put forward and their
success in being implemented.
 Be able to understand and analyse the changing scenario of housing in the country
and the way in which planning policies effect our cities.
 Understand the roles the various governmental agencies play in the planning
process.
 Be able to understand and examine the various futuristic models being adopted in
planning present day cities.
Text books:
Author: Gallion Arthur B & Eisna Simon
Title: The Urban Pattern: City Planning and Housing
Publisher: CBS
Date/Edition: 2005

Author: L. R. Kadiyali
Title: Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning
Publisher: Khanna Publishers
Date/Edition: 2000

Author: Peter Geoffrey Hall

Title: Urban and Regional Planning
Publisher: Routledge
Date/Edition: 2002/4th

Additional Course Material:

None presently.
 School of Architecture
Crash Course – Human Settlements and Planning

Unit -1: Introduction to Human Settlements

Introduction to human settlements - elements of human settlement - context and examples
- major aspects in spatial planning. Classification of human settlements - Growth and decay
of human settlements: Factors influencing the growth and decay, growth pattern of urban
settlements during the last one-century in our country. Structure and form of human
settlements - physical and functional

Unit -2: Planning Theories

Planning Theories enunciated by Ebenezer Howard, Patrick Geddes, Doxiadis, Le-Corbusier &
Clarence Arthur Perry, their relevance to Indian Planning.

Unit -3: Planning Activities

Urban and Rural Housing: Assessment of housing need and demand, Meaning of housing units
– built units and plots – approved, unapproved – developed, undeveloped and serviced.
Roads – Classification, cross – section elements – their geometry and functions, Intersection
– conflicting points and channelisers.

Unit -4: Urban and Regional Planning and Local Governance

Aim, Objective, Scope and content of Regional Plan, Master Plan, Zonal Plan and Urban
renewal plan. Objectives, Functions, Responsibilities and Organizational structure of Village
Panchayats, Municipalities, Corporations and Urban Development Authorities.

Unit -5: Settlements systems in a Changing world

Human settlement in space. Regionalism and regional approach to human settlements
growth. Global city, Information Technology & Communication – the city of the future and
future of the cities. Utopian concepts.
 School of Architecture
Crash Course – Human Settlements and Planning

Assessment pattern for internal marks:

S.no Assessment Pattern Marking Pattern Maximum Marks

1. Five written assignments A maximum of 10 marks for 50 Marks
based on each unit each assignment
2. Open book test A test based on all the covered 50 Marks
topics
Total: 100 Marks

Outline of the Course

Week 1:
History and evolution of Human settlements from the earliest times to the present along with
the factors that caused them to grow, develop and decay. Types of Settlements.
Assignment 1: (to be submitted on or before 9th January, 2018)
1. Explain out how human settlements changed and evolved ever since we learnt to
walk on two feet. Also explain the possible reasons for the changes, citing
examples wherever necessary with suitable sketches.
2. What caused the decay/decline of the first river valley civilizations?
3. What are the various settlement patterns found on the Indian sub-continent.
What are the possible reasons for the settlements to have taken up such forms?

Week 2:
Planning theories of the western world in the Indian context. Planning patterns of ancient
India.
Assignment 2: (to be submitted on or before 16th January, 2018)
1. List out the various theories related to planning and find examples of cities in the
Indian sub-continent which whose development reflects the same. Using the
same, state if the western theories are applicable to Indian cities.
2. In what ways were cities founded in ancient India? Mention some of the forms
that they could take along with the rationale for doing so.
 School of Architecture
Crash Course – Human Settlements and Planning

Week 3:
Supply and Demand of the Housing Stock. Classification of Housing and definitions of related
terms. Roads that their effect on housing.
Assignments 3: (to be submitted on or before 23rd January, 2018)
1. List out the definitions the following terms in relation to housing.
a. Slum
b. Housing
c. Obsolete
d. House
e. Household
f. Home
2. List out the effects that the construction of a 4-lane National highway would have
on a small village having a population of 5036, through which it is slated to pass
through. The village lies on the boundary of a metropolitan planning areas but
does not come under its preview. Due to certain reasons the highway is to pass
through the centre of the village.

Week 4:
Planning at the various levels and the governmental agencies involved in the planning and
execution phases. Legislation regarding planning in India – the 73rd and 74th CAA.
Assignment 4: (to be submitted on or before 30th January, 2018)
1. What are the major areas of reform that were ushered in under the 73 rd and 74th
CAA? What was the state of planning in Independent India before 1992?
2. List the various plans, their scales and time periods that one would find in India.

Week 5:
The future of planning – challenges and opportunities. Smart, Intelligent, Virtual, Global, etc.
cities.
Assignment 5: (to be submitted on or before 6th February, 2018)
1. Explain in detail the challenges that cities are facing in the present and would face
in the future?
2. Write an essay of a minimum of 1000 words in the topic – ‘To whom does the city
belong”?
 School of Architecture
Crash Course – Human Settlements and Planning

The final assessment which is an open book test will take place on
the 8th and 9th of February 2018.
Note to the students submitting assignments:
1. The assignments are to test your understanding of the subject and hence they are
expected to be in your own words to the maximum extent possible.
2. Both hard and soft copies of the assignments are to be submitted before the due date.
Students are expected to stick to the standard A4 size paper for making their
submissions.
3. The first page of the submission is to carry the name, roll number, assignment number,
subject name and any other required details clearly along with the following pledge:
“On my honour as a student of the School of Architecture, Hindustan Institute of
Technology and Science I pledge that I have neither given nor received additional aid
in this assignment and to the best of my knowledge, this assignment is in my own
words to the furthest extent possible.” The pledge must be signed.
4. References are to be given wherever necessary.
5. Delay in submitting assignments would lead to a deduction of 2 marks for each day
the submission is delayed by. Late submissions would be accepted only with a suitable
written explanation along with all the other specified requirements.
6. Innovation in making the assignment would be highly appreciated.
7. Other course material will be available to the students whenever necessary.