29821 - Elements of Town Planning

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Course the student will have the basic knowledge about: 1) the origin of planning, its evolution and its tools; 2) the theoretical and operational tools for the survey and the description of the urban and territorial systems. The student will be able to: - read and understand the contents of a planning tool; - comprehend a work referred to the main planning theories; - describe and interpret the functioning of an urban or territorial system

Course contents

The program includes the following subjects:

-          Birth and evolution of Planning as a discipline; the Italian Planning System, its levels and its tools; the “Piano Regolatore” (Urban Development Plan) and its evolution since 1942 until today.

-          Some notion about urban survey: the urban settlements and their form in the contemporary city; public spaces, infrastructures and green spaces in the city.

-          The Italian fundamental Planning Law (Legge 1150/1942); the Regional Planning Law of Emilia-Romagna (Legge Regionale 20/2000): the structure of the planning tools at the municipal level and their implementation. The “planner's tools”: the main urban ratios, parameters and standards; the “Regolamento Urbanistico Edilizio” (RUE), the “Permesso di Costruire”, the “DIA”; the tools for urban regeneration (“Piani Urbanistici Attuativi” and “Programmi Complessi”). Some notions about urban economy.

-          Territory, environment, landscape: birth and development of the environment/landscape protection culture in Italy and its main tools. The European Landscape Convention, the Italian “Codice dei Beni Culturali”.

-          The principles of sustainability and urban ecology: the “sustainable” development plan; the “Valutazione di Impatto Ambientale” (Environmental Impact Evaluation) and the “Valutazione Ambientale Strategica”.

Readings/Bibliography

The following readings concern the general themes of the Course

Edoardo Salzano, Fondamenti di urbanistica. La storia e la norma, Laterza, Bari 2007 (IV ed.)

Claudia Mattogno, Ventuno parole per l'urbanistica, Carocci, Roma 2008

 Andrea Filpa,  Michele Talia, Fondamenti di governo del territorio. Dal piano di tradizione alle nuove pratiche urbanistiche, Carocci, Roma 2009

Further recommended readings will be suggested during the lessons

Teaching methods

The Course includes lectures, seminars and a practical urban survey work, that will be developed by the students in groups of two. This work will be verified and discussed during the Course.

Assessment methods

Oral exam, focused on the main Course's subjects.

The exam includes the discussion on a book, chosen by each student in a list of “Town-Planning Classics” (it will be provided during the Course), and the presentation of the Urban Survey Work executed by each couple of students.

Office hours

See the website of Valentina Orioli

See the website of Stefania Proli