URBAN PLANNING TECHNIQUES
Learning outcomes of the course unit
At the end of the learning experience, the student is supposed to be fully aware of how urban instruments work, about their interaction with interactions with political, environmental, morphological issues.
Prerequisites
The student is supposed to have a slight conscience about urban form design, institutional themes concerning the city and, mostly, procedures of urban analysis.
Course contents summary
The subject is supposed to explain how urban planning instruments work. In order to accomplish this task, we will explore both regulatory, technical and institutional aspects. The first chapter is concerned with rules and constraints about urban soil use; the second chapter is about form, functions and sociale aspects of the city; the third is about public space and equipments, related to community and sociale demands.
Course contents
1) urban analysis: infrastructures and road framework; urban structure (block, grading of parcels; building types); community facilities; open and public space;
2) soil-use regulatory instruments;
3) classification standards, development rights, density and calculations;
4) form of urban tissues, both in an historical and functional perspective;
4) preserving areas and historical environment protection.
5) notes on urban economy and urban-growth dynamics.
Recommended readings
Some teaching materials and guidelines will be provided by the teachers - we will suggest the student to read some fundamental texts for urban planning culture:
- Habraken, John, "The structure of the Ordinary", Mit Press, Cambridge (Mass.), 1998;
- Lynch, Kevin; Hack, Gary, "Site Planning", Mit Press, Cambridge (Mass.), 1984 (II).
- Gosling, David, "Gordon Cullen", Academy Editions, s.l., 1996.
Teaching methods
The organization of the course is shared in two different moments:
1) cultural and theoretical treatise of planning techniques, showing a wide range and examples of local plans;
2) studio and workshop, in order ti apply consciously what we have explained in the previous cultural lessons.
Assessment methods and criteria
Final exam, composed of three aspects:
1) discussion about solutions and statements assumed for the practical work;
2) some questions about theoretical and cultural aspects (planning instruments and parameter, planning legal rules, environmental aspects);
3) a classwork about calculations and urban parameters (end of may).
