Urban Studies

This course explores the relationship between the police, the judicial system, and policy makers in London. Students learn the history of the police force in the UK and the developments that have formed the Metropolitan Police in London today. Topics covered include corruption, race relations, policing major demonstrations and riots, and the impact of government policy on policing. Students explore the politics behind decisions and the framework of the law.

This course is an interdisciplinary course that explores the relationship between art and architecture through visits to London’s famous museums, art galleries, public artworks, and iconic architecture. Students analyze the impact architecture has on viewing art with seminars which take place in some of London’s most famous museums and galleries such as the British Museum, Tate Modern, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. The course then consider alternatives to this model, including more recent curatorial phenomena by organizations such as ArtAngel which commission contemporary artists to make artworks in unexpected places: from a performance in an abandoned Underground station to a concrete cast of an entire house. Through the lens of specific case studies of art and architecture, the course examines relevant critical issues such as race, globalization, and environmental justice. In doing so, students interrogate how urban circumstances have shaped issues in modern and contemporary art and architecture in London.

With the rise in environmental concerns and the concepts of sustainable development in public policy at both European Union and national level, interest in regional and urban planning currently enjoys an unprecedented high profile. This course introduces key concepts related to regional and urban planning theory and practice. It presents a series of key topics in regional and urban planning, including sustainable urban growth; rural development; built and natural heritage, information, and communication technology; and public participation in planning. It explores the evolution of modern planning practice and the emergence of modern planning systems and their associated policies, including the Irish political and administrative framework and planning system. The other national systems and international practices are also noted, with European context and spatial planning providing the most relevant reference. Various planning policies and their implementation in practice are also explored and evaluated in the areas of housing, transport, urban design, environment, and community development.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. The student is expected to master the urban transformations in Europe in the 19th century. In particular, the student is expected to: learn theories and methods for reading and planning the historic cities and cultural landscapes; understand about the preservation of the historic cities as an asset for cultural and economic development; understand how the historic cities and landscapes can be objects of interest for cultural institutions.

This course explores the conservation and regeneration of urban heritage within a broader urban and planning framework. It focuses on two interrelated thematic axes:

• The recognition of historic cities and settlements as cultural heritage, where conservation and revitalization have gained global relevance in planning and development agendas. These heritage assets increasingly serve as catalysts for cultural tourism, the creative economy, and related activities.
• The reciprocal relationship between urban heritage conservation and regeneration, and the role of cultural institutions and practices as key drivers of community-based and sustainable development.

The examination of these themes offers a platform for critical reflection on the evolving definitions of heritage and value, and the implications of these shifts for conservation planning. These planning approaches—adopted by national and local governments and supported by international agencies—are critically assessed in light of the growing demand for a holistic, integrated understanding of heritage, particularly in response to environmental change. In addition to establishing a solid theoretical foundation, the course provides an overview of prevailing methods and tools in conservation planning. These are contextualized through relevant case studies drawn from Italy and other international settings. Key topics will be addressed through lectures and seminars, including: Urban Planning and Heritage Conservation; The "Patrimonialisation" of the Historic City; The Landscape Approach in Urban and Territorial Planning; Urban Heritage and Sustainable Development; International Frameworks for Urban Conservation; Methods of Value Assessment; Public Engagement and Participatory Planning; Urban Heritage in Contexts of Crisis; and Culture as a Driver of Urban Regeneration.