Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The learning objectives of the course are fully consistent with the formative objectives of the degree programme, which assign urban planning disciplines the task of contributing to the development of a design culture that, through theories, creativity, methodologies and procedures at different scales, enables the optimal construction of physical space. The general learning objectives for training in the activities ‘normally carried out under the professional title of architect’ (Directives 85/384/EEC, 85/14/EEC, 86/17/EEC) are aimed at ensuring the achievement of:
1. Proper knowledge of urban planning, policies, procedures and techniques applied in the planning process;
2. the ability to understand the relationships between people, architecture, cities and the environment, as well as the ability to adapt architectural creations, urban spaces and natural elements to each other for the sake of well-being;
3. the capacity to understand the importance of the profession and the functions of the architect in society, focusing on developing plans and urban projects based on enhance social and anthropological factors.
The qualifying educational objectives concern the ability to understand, discern, critically evaluate, exercise independent judgement and be sensitive to the social and ethical responsibilities inherent in any design activity.
The qualifying educational objectives of the course are the development of skills useful for the elaboration of a design approach capable of predicting those transformations of the city and the territory based on a proactive vision of innovative and equitable urban and territorial policies aimed at creating authentic development and inspired by the achievement of forms of socio-economic, distributive and cultural cohesion.
The specific objectives, the degree of achievement of which can be assessed during the learning assessment and at the end of the workshop during the exam, can be summarised as follows:
1. a deep understanding of the theoretical-scientific, methodological and operational aspects of urban planning for the design urban space, including by innovatively solving complex and interrelated problems that require an interdisciplinary and multi-scale approach;
2. the ability to understand the authentic concepts related to urban and territorial sustainability, social cohesion and the sense of identity of place in the design of cities and territories, with the aim to promote ecologically balanced and long-term development of the built and natural environment, including the rational use of available resources.
Course Prerequisites
With the aim of ensuring the consistency of the educational programme, the Teaching Regulations specify that in order to attend the 4th-year Urban Planning Laboratory, students must have passed the 2nd-year Urban Planning Laboratory exam.
To ensure to be able to tackle the topics and activities planned for the Urban Design Laboratory in an informed manner, it is useful to have the basic knowledge that is considered to have been acquired in previous years, also for avoiding repetition in the training process:
- the main concepts and theoretical topics relating to the role of urban and territorial planning and the tools available;
- the evolution of modern urban planning and the main stages in the acquisition of the disciplinary corpus;
- the essential aspects of urban planning legislation at national and regional level.
In order to assess students' initial levels of knowledge, interpretation and critical thinking with regard to urban planning and design skills, an initial written test covering both closed and open questions will be administered. This assessment will allow for better calibration of the teaching programme, identification of any gaps and preparation of in-depth lessons on specific topics, as well as guidance for workshop activities for the development of the design experiment that will be the subject of the final assessment.
Teaching Methods
1_TYPE OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES
In developing the course content, which will take place in a workshop format, in addition to lessons on specific topics, students will be engaged in a series of analyses based on independent considerations, observations and descriptions. Through the interpretation of urban phenomena, they will develop original ideas for reflection and design proposals, including in the form of design visions presented with graphics, drawings and videos.
The course is structured into lectures, exercises, design activities and workshop discussions on progress. Students will independently develop a collection of best practices related to design work. The results of this collection will be made available to all participants in the module during targeted seminars in order to share it and identify useful processes for the construction of scenarios and models for urban space design.
The types of learning activities are divided into
Lessons: 30 hours (hours/semester in the classroom)
Exercises: Study and presentation at the Best Practices Laboratory 8 hours (hours/semester in the classroom)
Practical activities: Design workshop activities 16 hours (hours/semester in the classroom)
Seminars: 2 seminars on specialist topics lasting 3 hours, 6 hours (hours/semester in the classroom)
Lessons (30 hours/semester in the classroom)
Topics (summary):
- Definition and examples of resilient, inclusive and digital cities
- Main policies and strategies for innovative forms of planning
- Functionality, hospitality and beauty for the urban quality of cities and public spaces
- Adaptations to climate change in spatial planning for health
- Tools for the urban ecological network for the design of public and private cities
- Urban stories: the best alliances between a new humanism and artificial intelligence
- Vulnerability reduction and risk assessment in city planning policies
Exercises (8 hours/semester in the classroom)
The exercises will focus on the study and presentation to the Best Practices Laboratory of innovative experiences related to the theme of policies, strategies and tools for planning a resilient, inclusive and digital city. The collection of exercises will constitute the common and implementable knowledge base of the Urban Design Laboratory during the semester.
Design workshop activities (16 hours/semester in the classroom)
The design experiment will focus on the contents of a project to revitalise a territory (municipality, metropolitan city, bioregion) with specific measures relating to policies, strategies and tools for resilient, inclusive and digital city planning in order to optimise territorial cohesion for new integrated forms of self-sustainable local development.
Specialist seminars (6 hours/semester in the classroom)
Seminars on the themes of spatial planning for health and safety in city planning policies
TOTAL 60 hours/semester in the classroom
Attendance is mandatory for at least 70% of lessons and will be certified by the lecturer, who will submit the list of students who have fulfilled the attendance requirement to the Department's Academic Office, together with the lesson register. The attendance certificate exempts the student from having to repeat the laboratory if the exam has not been taken within the academic year.
2_INDEPENDENT STUDY
Students will have 90 hours at their reach, which they can manage independently for study, preparation for tests, and in-depth study of topics covered in lectures and seminars. It is recommended that these hours be divided into three categories:
- Study and in-depth analysis of topics covered in lectures and seminars, including bibliographic and web sources - 45 hours
- Research into best practices to be shared in laboratory activities for tests - 30 hours
- Exam preparation with individual or group planning and communication of the experience - 15 hours
Students will explore the topics covered in lectures and seminars in depth, including through the study of bibliographic and web sources, and will independently develop a repertoire of best practices relating to policies, strategies and tools for planning resilient, inclusive and digital cities, which they will present to the workshop in order to share the knowledge of those processes useful for the optimal design of urban space.
Assessment Methods
Learning assessment takes place on a weekly basis during presentations of the inventory of significant experiences and allows for more informal interim assessments of the programme and topics covered in lectures, seminars and the body of shared knowledge that will constitute the common heritage of the Laboratory.
Examination method: Theory/Practice
The course involves assessment of the content covered during the lectures and explored extensively in the texts and websites indicated in the bibliography and sitography. This assessment consists of periodic presentations related to the overview of the progress of the project application.
For be admitted to the exam, students must actively participate in at least 70% of the scheduled lectures and seminars and must successfully complete the periodic assignments/presentations.
The exam will focus on the course content, topics of interest for further study and the project experience to be presented in a final seminar at the end of the Laboratory activities.
For specific categories of students (workers, part-time students or those with special needs), it is possible to agree on a specific training agreement.
Texts
Reference bibliography
1. Fallanca, C., (2021) “La Città Metropolitana, regia dei valori patrimoniali del territorio vasto di riferimento”, in Città Metropolitane. Linee progettuali per nuove relazioni territoriali (a cura di Fallanca C.), Franco Angeli Gehl, Jan. Città per le persone. Santarcangelo di Romagna: Maggioli, 2017
2. Gehl, Jan. Vita in città. Spazio urbano e relazioni sociali. Santarcangelo di Romagna: Maggioli, 2012
3. NACTO, National Association of City Transportation Officials. Urban Street Design Guide. 2013.Available online: https://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-design-guide/
4. Rosa, William, a c. di. «Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development». In A New Era in Global Health. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company,2017. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826190123.ap02.
5. Saunders, L. Healthy Streets|Making Streets Healthy Places for Everyone. 2020. Available online:https://www.healthystreets.com
Reference sitography
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/urban-design-compendium
https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/
http://www.urbanisticainformazioni.it
Contents
1_DESCRIPTION
The course Policies, strategies and tools for planning a resilient, inclusive and digital city is part of the Urban Design Laboratory and is aimed to provide at students attending the fourth year of the Master's Degree Course in Architecture (LM-4) an appropriate cultural reference base on the topic of policies, strategies and tools for an innovative approach to city planning in line with the new acquisitions underlying the principles for ecological and digital transition. The necessary theoretical foundations and methodological processes useful for understanding, interpreting and planning governance of the major issues related to policies and strategies for both urban and territorial social cohesion will be shared. It contributes to the learning process of an adequate knowledge of urban planning and planning processes, considering political, social, economic and anthropological factors, and supporting the refinement of creative skills for a critical and multidisciplinary vision of knowledge.
2_COURSE PROGRAMME
The theme for this year aims to demonstrate that it is possible to chart a new course of development towards experimentation and monitoring of designs, actions and implementations capable of amplifying “sustainable”, equitable, sober and long-term well-being for the optimal organisation of the city, its neighbourhoods and high-quality urban public spaces.
The topics of study and research concern the opportunities offered by policies, strategies and tools for planning a resilient, inclusive and digital city, and are outlined as follows:
- Functionality, hospitality and beauty for the urban quality of city districts and public spaces
- From spatial planning for health to health streets, adaptations to climate change
- Life in the city and cities for people, the social role of public space
- Tools for the urban ecological network for the design of public and private cities
- Soft mobility, art and water in the city, the enhanced mind, the opportunities of Artificial Intelligence
- Urban geographies and the culture of living in the Mediterranean
- Urban stories: the best alliances between a new humanism and artificial intelligence
- Vulnerability reduction and risk assessment in city planning policies
The preliminary theoretical lessons will focus on the following defining aspects and sharing of key concepts:
Definition of a resilient, inclusive and digital city
Examples of resilient, inclusive and digital cities
Main planning policies and strategies
Overview of the Laboratory of the first examples of innovative planning policies and strategies
Focus on examples of effective policies, strategies and tools to control and mitigate the effects of climate change
In developing the course content, which will take place in a workshop format, in addition to lectures on specific topics, students will be engaged in a series of experiments based on independent considerations, observations and descriptions. Through the interpretation of urban phenomena, they will develop original ideas for reflection and design proposals, including in the form of design visions presented with graphs, drawings, images and videos. This design process aims to propose innovative urban development through the construction of scenarios, models and procedures for planning and design policies that will affect complex urban spaces and specific areas chosen collectively. The activities and outcomes of the workshops will be presented in seminar form, also in collaboration with speakers from the professional world.
The educational sessions, theoretical and design activities will be modulated throughout the year, seeking to monitor the adequacy of the teaching load in relation to the number of credits for the course, 6 credits per semester and 12 credits per year, and the overall commitment required in the fourth year, also about participation in common cultural activities.
3_EXPECTED RESULTS
The course provided in the 4th year is part of the second cycle of complex learning that prepares students for the role of architect. Aware that at the end of this cycle, students must demonstrate, through assessments, that they have acquired the knowledge that characterises the figure of the architect, relating to urban design, and that the disciplines CEAR-12/B (formerly ICAR/21) - Urban Planning, are among those that the course of study plans to reinforce due to the specific contribution that the sector can make with regard to elements of innovation in the field of public city design focused on a new urban welfare. The main results expected through the system adopted at European level of five interrelated descriptors, “Dublin Descriptors”, are indicated below
Knowledge and understanding / Knowledge and understanding
Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of spatial phenomena and their causes, and to have acquired knowledge and skills such that, through the development of original ideas and in a research context, they are able to develop a project-based exercise.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding / Applying knowledge and understanding.
Students will practice applying their knowledge and understanding skills for a methodologically correct approach in the exercise phase, in a specific territorial context and to possess adequate skills both to devise and support arguments and solve problems in their field of study, and to have the ability to conceive, design and implement a research process on the issues of sustainable development and land habitation.
Autonomy of judgment/Making judgements.
Students will refine the ability to integrate knowledge and manage complexity, as well as to make judgments and discernment skills based on information that may be initially biased, including reflection on the social and ethical responsibilities related to the application of their knowledge, interpretations and judgments.
Communication skills / Communication skills
Students will improve the ability to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions clearly and relevantly by offering their particular point of view to the course community.
Learning skills / Learning skills.
Students will be expected to demonstrate that they have developed those learning skills that are necessary for them to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy, originality, creativity and design ability.
More information
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