65921 - Rural buildings and Spatial Planning

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student acquires the basic elements for the design of rural buildings as well as information on the main tools of regional and urban planning for the design of construction actions in rural areas, with particular attention to those of municipal level and the main procedural aspects. The student is able to define the design process of a rural building, until the completion of the preliminary project, and to apply the tools of protection and regulation of land use in the management and planning of building actions in rural areas.

Course contents

Prerequisites: The student who accesses this teaching has a good preparation in the fundamentals of mathematics, statistics and physics.

Planning and design of rural areas are considered synergistic actions linked by a two-way relationship that over time created the present landscape and will determine its future changes. This idea permeates the course contents that are developed through a program divided into interconnected teaching units.

Module 1 - Teaching unit 1 (12 hours – Stefano Benni): Rural buildings and their construction technologies

Introduction: traditional rural building typologies in relation with landscape (2h)

The building structure, its organization, the system components and their mutual relationships (2h)

The structural system: foundations, vertical structures (walls and columns), horizontal structures, slabs, floors, trilith system, arch system, arches, vaults (2h)

The building envelope: vertical closures, horizontal closures, vertical and horizontal links (2h)

The building materials of rural buildings: brickwork, mortar, concrete (2h)

The building materials of rural buildings: wood and steel (2h)

Expected results: the student knows the technical features of the main building systems and the main construction materials of traditional rural buildings.

Module 1 - Teaching unit 2 (12 hours – Stefano Benni): Analysis of loads and forces

Actions on structures: self-weight of structural materials, permanent loads, variable actions, wind action, snow load (2h)

Seismic actions and the response of rural buildings (2h)

Notes on kinematics of the rigid body and definition of degrees of freedom, the constraints and relating constraint reactions: hinges, trolleys, joints. Definition of isostatic structures (2h)

Analysis of areas of influence and computation of loads on slabs, beams, columns and bearing walls (2h)

The internal action and its components (normal force, shear force, bending moment): definitions (2h)

Normal stresses in rectangular sections subjected to normal forces and bending (2h)

Expected results: the student knows the actions on rural buildings and the analytical procedures necessary for their quantification

Module 1 - Teaching unit 3 (8 hours – Stefano Benni): Forces calculation exercises

Calculation of support reactions and internal action in simple isostatic structures (6h)

Calculation of the maximum normal stress in rectangular sections of beams and columns (2h)

Expected results: the student is able to calculate the support reactions and internal actions of simple rural buildings with isostatic structure

Module 1 - Teaching unit 4 (8 hours – Stefano Benni): Complementary Activities

Teaching visits, specialized seminars and analysis of literary documents, iconographic and audiovisual documents about traditional rural architecture

Module 2 - Teaching unit 5 (12 hours – Patrizia Tassinari): Rural landscape planning

Module 2 consists of a theoretical teaching unit and a practical teaching unit, directly linked to the theoretical one.

In teaching unit 5 we introduce a cultural reference framework within which the territorial, urbanistic and landscape planning regulations are placed, with some references to the environmental one. For this purpose, a time frame is considered suitable for a classification - albeit synthetic - of this context necessary for the understanding of the main evolutions occurred from the last century up to current events for a reasoned understanding of the main transformations occurred on the territory and on the landscape. As regards the landscape aspects, starting from the first theories and conceptions of the landscape, the landscape definition of the European Landscape Convention will be treated (2000). The fundamental laws of the land-use and urban planning discipline and the tools that currently regulate the transformations of the rural territory with a significant reference to the legislative experiences of the Emilia-Romagna region, to the various government scales of the territory.

Within the teaching unit there are also seminar activities for in-depth analysis on specific topics of territorial planning at the local scale.

Expected results: at the end of the teaching unit the student will know the institutional instruments in force, at the regional, provincial and local scale and can understand their effects on the main landscape changes occurred both nationally in the time period considered (beginning of the last century / nowadays) and, with greater level of detail, on the study area taken as a reference in the time period from the second post-war period to today.

Module 2 - Teaching unit 6 (28 hours – Patrizia Tassinari): state of places and current provisions

Teaching unit 6 consists in a practical application part strictly related to the theoretical part of teaching unit 5.

A first phase of theoretical lessons of preparation for laboratory activities is foreseen within this unit. This phase is focused on the analysis of spatial and urban planning instruments referring to a study area specifically chosen for laboratory activities and which involves a commitment 12 hours in total.

The subsequent laboratory phase is divided into two parts.

The first provides, assuming a specific area, which is characterized by a multiplicity of productive vocations and landscape assets, targeted exercises guided step by step by the teacher consisting of a critical analysis of the state of planning in progress (at the supra-local and local scale) of the study area that insists in the wider context of the regional territory of Emilia-Romagna.

The second part focuses on the reading led by the teacher of the state of the places of the study area. Documentary sources will be researched and analyzed to highlight the main transformations that have taken place in this area from the second post-war period until today. The students (organized in groups) will then be guided in the interpretation and return of the indications deriving both from the reading of the planning tools and from the analysis of plans deriving from the survey in the chosen study area. The reading and analysis of the cartographies used must be conducted through materials and documentary sources provided by the teacher on paper and / or computer support. These activities will have a duration of 16 hours.

The graphics obtained in this way will be discussed and reviewed in the classroom with the teacher and then evaluated during the exam.

Expected results: at the end of the teaching unit the student can read and interpret the main planning tools and the state of the places.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes prepared by teachers in relation to all teaching units (the material is made available on the online platform progressively during the course, functionally for the lectures). Lecture notes given by the professors represent the necessary base if integrated by notes taken by students during the lessons.

Books:

- Cannarozzo R., Cucchiarini L., Meschieri W., 2016. “Genio rurale – Volume 2. Costruzioni ed edifici rurali”. Zanichelli. Sezioni I, L, M, O, P1, P2 (solo par. 1 e 2).

For further information, refer to specific chapters of the following books:

- F. Oliva, P. Galuzzi, P. Vitillo, “Progettazione urbanistica”, Maggioli
- Emilio Sereni, “Storia del paesaggio agrario italiano”, Laterza,
- Zaffagnini M. (a cura di), 1997. “Le case della grande pianura”. Alinea, Firenze.

Teaching methods

The course is subdivided into teaching units which provide theoretical lessons (teaching units 1, 2, and 5), seminars and study visits (teaching unit 4), and practical and application parts (teaching units 3 and 6).

In particular, for module 1, theoretical parts and seminars are integrated with practical activities dealing with forces calculation exercises (teaching unit 3).

For module 2, theoretical parts are integrated with practical activities and surveys on a case study chosen for laboratory application activity (teaching unit 6). In this case the theoretical lessons are the basis for the carrying out of the laboratory activity and for this reason they will be integrated during of the module, providing for the preparation of graphical works by the students. The content of these works will be the subject of presentation and discussion with the professor. More precisely, each group will present in the classroom the progress of the work during the course, in order to facilitate the exchange of experiences and information among the various groups and to allow a critical discussion and the reception of indications and suggestions by the teacher.During the examination, the student will present the final version of the paper, which will constitute an element of evaluation.

Assessment methods

For the teaching units of module 1 the student’s knowledge will be assessed through a written test and a potential oral interview. The written test consists of two exercises of load analysis and calculation of the forces on structures and a group of pre-indicated questions on construction technologies of rural buildings. The score of the written test derives for one third from the first exercise, one third from the second exercise and one third from the group of questions. During the written test only the use of the calculator is allowed and the consultation of texts or other material is not allowed. Passing the written test with a rating at least sufficient is a necessary condition to pass the exam. Once the written test has passed, the student can take an oral test about the knowledge and skills acquired in module 1.

This part contributes 50% of the overall assessment.

For the teaching units relating to module 2 the knowledge and skills are assessed through an oral interview, during which the knowledge and skills acquired regarding both teaching units are assessed.
The interview includes the illustration and discussion of the papers produced in the laboratory activity. As a rule, the presentation takes place collegially by each group, with exposure and discussion by all the members. The evaluation will take into consideration: the papers produced by the group, the quality of the exposition and discussion of each member of the group, the ability to answer questions even on parts not covered by the presentation and treated by other members of the group, the ability to answer a question about theoretical parts of module 2.
This part contributes 50% of the overall assessment.

The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths. To pass the exam, the student demonstrates that he has acquired sufficient knowledge of the main contents of all the teaching units. For the achievement of full marks and honour it is necessary a personal deepening of the topics dealt with.

Failure to participate in theoretical lectures or exercises does not preclude passing the exam: those who cannot attend must contact the teacher to agree on a substitute activity.

All dates, times and locations of the examinations are published on the website of the degree course. To subscribe use the web application AlmaEsami.

Teaching tools

Overhead projector and PC for lectures, technic and thematic cartography, planning documents.

Office hours

See the website of Patrizia Tassinari

See the website of Stefano Benni