66119 - Landscape Planning

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course unit the student has acquired the main knowledge in the field of the contemporary European conception of landscape, through theoretical lessons and a critical analysis of examples of landscape projects in the international context.

In detail, the student is able to:

- critically read the guidelines, regulations and landscape planning instruments from the European to the local scale;

- interpret the ‘condition of places' as a result of the laws in force and assess the possible future scenarios for a sustainable development of the rural landscape;

- -clarifying/making/explaining choices through mastery of tools and methods of landscape planning and design.

Course contents

As highlighted by the European Landscape Convention (CEP 2000), the diverse characterization of territories constitutes a value to be safeguarded, where landscape identity and recognizability are fundamental elements of the quality of living spaces and, consequently, of the quality of life of the population. Within this concept, in which the entire territory is landscape and in continuous evolution and transformation, knowledge and awareness of its constituent elements are essential for defining planning objectives and guidelines and landscape design actions.

Starting from these assumptions, the course addresses the interpretation and critical reading of planning guidelines at various scales (from the supranational to the local) and the knowledge and application of methods for interpreting and analyzing landscape and rural territory, with a focus on a study area. The specific objectives are to interpret the dynamics of territorial, landscape, and agroforestry transformations that have occurred, also as a result of the application of protection and enhancement regulations and constraints, in conjunction with other environmental, territorial, structural, and infrastructural elements. This will help identify the main critical issues and opportunities, also in relation to ongoing challenges and scenarios. Based on these elements, students identify potential enhancement strategies capable of addressing critical issues and exploiting emerging opportunities, and outline potential project directions for appropriately defined territorial areas based on preliminary analyses. The project directions can address various dimensions, such as environmental, use, reduction of fragmentation/artificialization, enhancement of marginal areas, etc.

The study area is then analyzed in its various declinations and characteristics, generated over time as a result of the evolution of agricultural, settlement, and production processes and their interactions at various scales. It is used as a reference for further study of planning and design methods, as a tool around which concepts and methodologies of more general value and applicability in various territorial contexts are provided and tested.

Students are encouraged to research design and literature references, useful for supporting the analytical analysis and strategy definition phases, as well as for inspiration and as a benchmark.

The course consists of highly interconnected theoretical lectures and practical application activities, and is divided into two modules.

Module 1 (Prof. Patrizia Tassinari), 20 hours

The module focuses on the analysis of planning tools in force at various levels of territorial governance, with a specific focus on a study area. This involves a detailed analysis of all the cartographic components, constraints, and related regulatory components of the urban planning and territorial instruments in force at the municipal and supra-municipal levels.

Through these insights, students gain an understanding of the critical issues and opportunities that, although related to a case study, represent a logical framework of reasoning applicable to other contexts.

Module 2 (Prof. Daniele Torreggiani), 30 hours

The module focuses on building a knowledge framework for the study area. Students are involved in defining, researching, and integrating various data, as well as processing and quantifying transformation trends and interpreting them using GIS tools. The integration of these various findings with further levels of information derived from the territorial planning tools explored in depth in Module 1 allows students to prepare reports on the main critical issues and opportunities, on the basis of which, in close synergy with the activities conducted in Module 1, strategies and project proposals are identified.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes given by the professor during the course.

References for specific in-depth information::

Andrea De Montis, Pianificare il paesaggio rurale, 2017, ISBN 978-88-907678-4-5.

E. SERENI (1996), Storia del paesaggio agrario italiano, Laterza.

PANDAKOVIC D., DEL SASSO A. (2013), Saper vedere il paesaggio, Novara, Edizioni Città Studi

Cap. 7 – Oggetti e finalità delle rappresentazioni del paesaggio

Cap. 8 – L’analisi del paesaggio

Cap.10 – Pianificazione e progetto del paesaggio

Teaching methods

The course is divided into two modules, each comprising classroom lectures and practical activities on a case study chosen for laboratory application. The lectures support the laboratory activities and will therefore be conducted in an integrated manner throughout the course, with students preparing ongoing project works. The contents of these works will be the subject of presentations and group discussions.

After an initial phase summarizing the knowledge base, students will outline directions and project strategies for territorial and landscape enhancement of the area under study. The project will take into account the landscape planning and design guidelines defined in Module 1 and the analytical-diagnostic elements developed with the in-depth analysis in Module 2, aimed both at safeguarding and protecting the identity of the landscape analyzed and at new interventions and directions for its revitalization from a multifunctional perspective (productive, landscape-social, cultural, and environmental functions).

To provide opportunities for students to share knowledge and experiences, the design lab will be held in small groups of two or three, and there will be opportunities for group presentations and reviews of the progress of the work and the various design experiences.

Assessment methods

This course unit is part of the Integrated Course RURAL BUILDINGS, LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND PLANNING together with the other course unit: RURAL BUILDINGS AND LANDSCAPE. Therefore, the evaluation of the integrated course takes into account jointly the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the student in relation to the contents of both course units.

The knowledge and skills taught in this course unit are assessed through an interview, which evaluates the knowledge and skills acquired in both modules.

The interview includes:

1) the illustration and discussion of the group works produced in the lab activity. Normally, the members of each group will describe, explain and discuss together their activity. The evaluation will take into consideration: the documents produced by the group, the quality of illustration and discussion by each member of the group of said works, the ability to answer questions even on parts not covered by the illustration because they are treated by other members of the group,

2) questions related to the theoretical contents.

The commission evaluates the students by taking into account the level of knowledge and skills acquired in relation to the contents of both modules.The evaluation is expressed with marks on a scale from 1 to 30 (pass level is 18). To pass the exam, the student needs to demonstrate to have acquired sufficient knowledge on the main contents of both modules. To gain honors it is necessary to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and personal re-elaboration of the topics covered.

Failure to participate in theoretical lectures and / or practical parts only does not preclude passing the exam, however those who cannot attend must contact the professor to agree on the procedures for carrying out the assignment.

Dates, times and locations of the examinations are published on the website of the degree course. Subscriptions through the AlmaEsami web application.

Teaching tools

PC and projector; technical and thematic maps, plans; GIS software in computer lab.

Office hours

See the website of Patrizia Tassinari

See the website of Daniele Torreggiani