This course critically examines the role of landscape architecture and heritage conservation in shaping the modern city. It explores the inter-relationship of ecology, history, urban morphology, urban conservation, open space systems, public life and the culture of cities, showing how theoretical constructs, planning principles and design outcomes have changed with the changing landscapes of production and consumption in cities of the developed and developing world. The course includes background investigations of the cities selected for the international urban design studios in Summer Term.