Although the practices of planning have changed in different political contexts, cycles of economic development and waves of social demands, and while design models and ideas have often adapted to new challenges, planning is still deeply indebted to a modernist inspiration, a "style" of intervention mostly elaborated in Western countries since the second half of the 19th century. A paradigm shift seems to be underway from traditional theories of urban growth, development and control to new options for planning for "slower", "smarter", and more socially and environmentally sustainable forms of development of cities and regions. A new planning language is emerging at the intersection of a complex web of arrangements. The course will thus attempt to illuminate the practical and theoretical challenges faced by planning in the changing context of contemporary urbanism, and its actual and possible role in reshaping European cities, regions and territories. The 5 large cities where the participating institutions are based will be used as rich case-studies to explore those challenges.

dal April 2021 a June 2021