1 Analysis of the rural built environment aimed at defining
functional needs. Definition of criteria for structural and
technological optimization of existing constructions; study of
buildings typologies aimed at conciliating agricultural
competitiveness and environmental and landscape compatibility;
definition of specific design criteria for rural and
agro-industrial buildings.
2 Study of changes in rural land-use/land-cover and landscape,
through integrated analysis of the agricultural system, of
structures and infrastructure, and built environment.
3 Landscape Design for the enhancement of farms' open spaces and
urban and periurban green areas.
4 Land and site suitability analysis aimed at the location planning
of structures and infrastructure in rural areas, considering both
functional needs and environmental and landscape preservation.
5 Development of criteria for the typological analysis of historic
rural buildings.
1
The research is based primarily on the characterization of the
current rural built system aimed at the qualitative and
quantitative identification of functional requirements and at the
analysis of the productive and landscape features. The theoretical
basis of the research is represented by the definition of
references and criteria for architectural and landscape quality in
rural building design. In this regard historic rural buildings are
recognized as an expression of empirical knowledge which is
generally characterized by high architectural quality: their
analysis proves thus to be useful to define criteria for the design
of new buildings. The in-depth analysis of historic rural buildings
is therefore a basic step to define design criteria based on
historical and typological consistency and thus aimed at
approaching the historic characters or at reducing the perception
of inconsistent elements. The results of the research can be
useful in the field of technological and structural optimization of
existing constructions, of the study of buildings typologies aimed
at conciliating agricultural competitiveness and environmental and
landscape compatibility, and of the definition of specific design
criteria for rural and agroindustrial buildings.
2
The study of changes in rural landscape is carried out through the
integrated investigation of the agricultural, structural,
infrastructural and settlement systems, also considering the
relations of such trends with programming and planning policies.
The following issues are studied: changes in the socio-economic,
land-use/land-cover, physical, structural and infrastructural
elements of rural landscape; analysis of areas where such
features underwent the most peculiar and severe trends; analysis of
the driving forces and relations among the trends of the various
systems; definition of future scenarios.
3
The analysis are carried out in order to define criteria, tools and
strategies for landscape design in farms' open spaces and urban and
periurban green areas, within the broader theme of enhancement of
landscape and environment. Issues concerning planning and
regulations are also analyzed, in order to encourage the proper
harmonization and environmental and landscape sustainability of
facilities and infrastructure.
4
The research is part of the broader analysis of the many factors
that must be considered in order to define a proper design process.
These factors, mutually linked, concern both functional needs and
the interactions between the built environment and landscape. The
land-suitability/site-planning problem deals with the definition of
the most suitable location for new developments and infrastructure
in rural areas, considering both the availability of facilities and
services and landscape compatibility. As for the rural built
environment and its relationships with landscape and agricultural
arrangement, the study aims to develop methodologies capable of
assessing the potential visual impact caused by rural structures
and infrastructure, and the mitigating potential of different
solutions.
5
Within the theme of a proper holistic protection of the cultural
and physical integrity of landscape, the study deals with the
protection of the historic settlement system of the countryside,
which is analyzed in terms of dating, distribution and
architectural features. In particular the research focuses on the
development of methodologies aimed at the typological study of the
historic rural built environment. The results are analyzed to
investigate possible correlations among the above-mentioned issues
and also to derive criteria useful for the design of new rural
buildings.
