Architectural and urban design

The research line focuses on the theory and practice of “design” applied to different scales, from architecture to landscape, to planning, and different contexts and themes. Each group follows its original lines while all sharing a project oriented viewpoint and the idea of a necessary relationship with social and economical science and urban history; regional planning and transport policy become also a key issues of the research approach. The main topics followed by the 11 teams of researchers are: a. analysis, history and project in well-established contexts: urban design approaching consolidated urban fabrics along with well-defined landscapes on the basis of a thorough knowledge of their history; b. architectural design + urban and regional planning aimed at facing problems typical of regions comparable to the Po valley area in their “polycentric” settlement structure acquired throughout history (whether situated in Europe or not, as well as in developing countries); c. Living places: analysis and design of residential units, housing types and principles, to be built in areas undergoing the profound changes typical of the modern metropolis; d. history & theory - oriented architectural design: architectural design aimed at facing problems of today while giving due consideration to the classical idea of a city, as well as to the actual building technologies on which architecture is based.