Navigating Ambiguity: Comedy Improvisation as a Tool for Urban Design Pedagogy and Practice

Figures & data

Table 1 Sequence of Exercises in Studio

Group Exercises	Individual Exercises
1. Comedy improv exercises and scenes	2. Critical readings and analysis of design theory
6. Integrative urban design concept and design	3. Interpretation and illustration of theory
8. Final Integrative urban design project	4. Analysis of site and context through theory
	5. Preliminary individual brainstorming of ideas
	7. Revised individual design development
Ongoing: Reflective essays on comedy improv and design exercises

Note: The numbers refer to the sequencing of each exercise over the course of the semester.

Figure 1 Exploratory site analysis

Source: Hannah Creeley

Figure 2 Sketch plan of area

Source: Hannah Creeley, Catherine Duffy, Blair Humphreys, Sarah Snider, Kathleen Ziegenfuss, and Sara Zewde

Figure 3 A student performing a monologue in response to an audience prompt and as part of the comedy improv at the final studio presentation

Source: Sarah Neilson

Figure 4 Aerial photograph of the studio site

Source: Boston Redevelopment Authority

Figure 5 Composite design strategy for the site

Source: Hannah Creeley, Catherine Duffy, Blair Humphreys, Sarah Snider, Kathleen Ziegenfuss, and Sara Zewde

Figure 6 Comedy improv performance at the final studio presentation

Source: Sarah Neilson

Figure 7 Activity map

Source: Hannah Creeley, Catherine Duffy, Blair Humphreys, Sarah Snider, Kathleen Ziegenfuss, and Sara Zewde Note: The light yellow arrows indicate how the patterns of activity would evolve over time