STUDY PROGRAMME
Design

AFAM CODE
ABPR14

DISCIPLINARY AREA
Elements of architecture and city planning

DISCIPLINARY FIELD
Urban design

CREDITS
4

APPROACH
Theoretical/project based

This course guides the students through an experience of reading, interpreting and designing to face the complexity of the urban world, in particular of public areas as relational and and social life spaces. It mainly aims at letting the students experiment with a working method and an approach to the project that starts with the observation of the urban “context”. Dealing with its complexity is a crucial point for the design activity, whatever its scale.

The programme consists of one single module, which grants 4 CFA credits.

Successful students will be able to:

• Read public spaces

• Observe a urban context

• Understand urban complexities

• Develop comprehensive Urban design projects

• Methods of analysis

• Case studies – requalification of abandoned areas

• Environment and sustainability

• Smart cities

• Community

This is a theoretical/project based course.

Students will take part in the following activities, which may vary depending on the development of different projects:

• Classroom lectures

• Use of tutorials, videos or other media tools

• Exercises and revisions

• Workshops

• Individual or group projects

• Individual or group study and research

Assessment tools may include:

• Oral exam

• Graded exercises/revisions

• Exercises or projects

• Completion of comprehensive projects

• Submission of exercises, projects or research work

Further details about the exams will be provided by the professors.

RECOMMENDED:

• Balmond, C. (2002) Informal, ed. Munich-Berlin-London-New York, Prestel Verlag.

• Cobbett, W. (2011) Formalising the Informal, ed. Cities Alliance Programme Manager to the World Planning Schools Congress.

• Fossa, G. et alii (2002)Transforming the Places of Production, ed. Olivares.

• Gregotti, V. (1990) Five necessary dialogues, Lotus Documents, Milano: ed. Electa.

• Gauzin-Muller, D. (2002) Sustainable architecture and urbanism: concept, technologies, examples, Birkhauser: ed. Basel-Berlin-Boston.

• Shane G. (2011) Urban Design Since 1945; a global perspective, ed. John Wiley.

Many of the recommended sources, together with additional material, are also available online on MyNaba, in the Library section.

Books and resources might be requested or suggested by the professors.