Urban design studio
The studio explores the scope of urban design in relation to current processes of ecological and socio-economic transition, which raise new challenges for technical knowledge and its traditions. Focusing on the multiple tools and scales of spatial planning, the course investigates forms of design at urban and territorial scales, aimed at addressing emerging issues and challenges in the complex reality of contemporary cities and landscapes. Topics include settlement structure, infrastructure networks, functional nodes, public spaces, and open spaces—with particular attention to the regeneration of critical and unresolved urban and territorial contexts, viewed from the perspective of reducing land consumption.
Tools and techniques of the urban planning project
Il Laboratorio di Urbanistica 2 ha l’obiettivo di offrire un’esperienza progettuale avanzata di carattere urbanistico, che, pur tornando a tenere insieme analisi, interpretazione e progetto, stimoli nello studente una attitudine e una propensione verso la dimensione progettuale anche integrata alle politiche urbane, nel quadro di un’attenzione al contesto e alla città pubblica (concepita sia come spazio di relazione, sia come spazio di welfare), allo stretto rapporto tra spazio aperto e spazio costruito.
URBAN PLANNING STUDIO – Urban planning & Analysis of the city and the territory & Urban and regional analysis
The Urban Planning Studio is an introduction to urban planning and design through the fundamentals of the discipline as critical analysis of both city and country at different scales, as knowledge of theories and best practices of urban design and spatial planning in the twentieth century, as well as an understanding of current regulation and design tools. Further attention is devoted to understanding the dynamics of territorial transformation in recent decades along with emerging issues of the contemporary city.
Designing sustainable cities
The growing share of the urban population, combined with pressing socio-environmental challenges, leads to a wide range of impacts on land use, urban functions, environmental quality, social relations, and citizens’ well-being—impacts which need to be governed. Moreover, urban areas are responsible for a significant share of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to climate change while also being highly exposed to its consequences. At the same time, cities represent crucial laboratories for experimenting with policies, plans, and actions aimed at achieving social, ecological, and economic sustainability.
Nature-based solutions for a resilient world
Nature Based Solutions or NBS refers to nature-inspired environmental management and intervention solutions. It is a relatively recent concept, used by the European Commission to identify strategies, actions, technologies and interventions, which provide environmental services and socio-economic benefits that can increase environmental resilience. Today there is great attention to these solutions and to the development and enhancement of innovative technological solutions based on the example of natural systems.
Smart Cities and Urban Innovation
The Smart Cities and Urban Innovation class provides a theoretical frame of reference for digital technologies, urban innovation, and its socio-political implications drawing on planning, urban studies, and geography literature. In order to foster an in-depth and critical understanding of urban innovation and multiple planning responses, the class presents and involves students in investigating a set of policies and initiatives such as the smart city, sustainable city, culture-led regeneration, and branded urban projects. On the other hand, the class develops hands-on activities and exercises referred to spatial planning for urban smartness and community-driven innovation in the digital age.
