Course description
The course focuses on cities considered as complex systems where natural, socio-economic and built environments co-evolve. Through interdisciplinary perspectives and approaches (economics, environmental sciences, urban planning, political science, etc.), it aims at exploring how cities work and change in terms of configurations of people, places and activities, as well as infrastructures and building projects, assuming a general framework of sustainable development.
The purpose of this course is threefold:
1) to provide students with the basic concepts and theories relevant to understanding the major forces that drive the changes and challenges affecting cities in the current era of global change;
2) to familiarize students with the range of planning instruments, approaches and governance arrangements involved in the contemporary urban policy-making process (comprehensive plans, strategic plans, megaevents, mega-projects, culture-led urban development, bottom-up social initiatives, etc.);
3) to introduce students to the most relevant tools, methods and frameworks for the analysis of contemporary urban challenges (public policy analysis and Geographic Information Systems).
The course is divided into three modules.
Module 1 (Feb 24 - Apr 8) introduces students - from a theoretical perspective - to cities, global changes, urbanization processes and planning policies. Module 2 (Apr 20 - Apr 29) introduces students to the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a fundamental tool for analysing, mapping and communicating researches on complex places. Thanks to a small Digital Lab, participants will learn how to manipulate raster and vector images, as well as contextualize historical and current statistical data and cartography. In module 3 (Apr 30 - May 27) students will be introduced to the case-study; the module is structured as a real urban analysis and policy design workshop experience where students will acquire practical skills through the analysis of the complex interrelation between Venice and a global change affecting the city and its residents: the increasing mass tourism.
Students will be organized in work groups and from the very start of the module they will work together with the aim of critically investigating the underlying complexity of the case-study, as well as proposing policy initiatives aimed at balancing the residents’ needs with those of tourists.
Guest speakers will be invited to give lectures on issues related to the topics addressed in the course.

Requirements
Students are expected to do the required readings and to attend class regularly, as attendance is compulsory (maximum 15% absence is allowed, see VIU Program Regulations). Required readings will be designated on a weekly basis according to the themes listed in the course outline.
Given their different countries of origins and backgrounds, students are encouraged to participate and discuss actively during the lessons in order to enhance a regular exchange of points of view, ideas and perspectives.
With reference to the development of the case-study, continuous tutoring will be offered by the professor.
The use of any kind of phones, tablets and computers (if not explicitly required by the professor) is strictly prohibited during the class hours.
Penalty grades will be assigned to students who fail to observe these rules. This means that unexcused absences, lateness, low participation in class discussion, disrupting classes and the use of technological devices if not required will reduce the final grade.

Exams and evaluation methods
Two evaluations will take place during the course:
1. Mid-term evaluation: an individual in-class written test based on open questions concerning the lessons of module 1 (Apr 8);
2. Final evaluation: the presentation/discussion of the group works (May 27) and the individual submission of a paper (max 10.000 characters including spaces) with a personal investigation/reflection on specific issues addressed in the group works (paper to be submitted by May 29, 11.59 pm, Italian time).
Students will have the chance of taking the exam just once and not have the possibility of taking the exam on alternative dates.

Evaluation method
• Group work: 35/100;
• Individual written test: 50/100 (30 points on intermediate and 20 points on final);
• Attendance/class participation/interaction: 15/100.

Course outline
Module 1 (Feb 24 - Apr 8)

Monday, February 24
Course introduction

Wednesday, February 26
Urbanization and the formation of global cities
References: S. Kim, “Urbanization”, The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, Second Edition;
Begg I. (1999). Cities and Competitiveness, in “Urban Studies”, May, 36, pp. 795-809;
Sassen S. (1991). The global city: New York, London, Tokyo, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, pp. 3-15;
Moulaert F., Rodriguez A. and Swyngedouw E. (eds) (2005). The globalized city: economic restructuring and social polarization in European cities, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 1-7.

Monday, March 2
The birth of urban planning (mid XIX century)
References: Hall P. (2002). Cities of tomorrow: an intellectual history of urban planning and design in the Twentieth Century,3th edition, Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 218-261.

Wednesday, March 4
The consolidation of urban planning (1945-1970)
References: Hall P. (2002). Cities of tomorrow: an intellectual history of urban planning and design in the Twentieth Century,3th edition, Malden, Oxford: Blackwell.

Monday, March 9
The crisis of urban planning (since 1970)
References: Hall P. (2002). Cities of tomorrow: an intellectual history of urban planning and design in the Twentieth Century, 3th edition, Malden, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 343-361.

Wednesday, March 11
Goals, approaches and tools of urban policy since 1980 (mega-projects, mega-events, culture-led urban development) - 1
References: Chalkley B. and Essex S. (1999). Urban development through hosting international events: a history of the Olympic Games, in Planning perspective, 14(4), pp. 369-394.

Monday, March 16
Goals, approaches and tools of urban policy since 1980 (mega-projects, mega-events, culture-led urban development) - 2
References: Flyvbjerg B., Bruzelius N. and Rothengatter W. (2003). Megaprojects and risk. An anatomy of ambition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 1-10;
Altshuler A.A. and Luberoff D. (2003). Megaprojects. The changing politics of urban public investment, Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, pp. 844.

Wednesday, March 18
Venice: socio-economic dynamics and spatial planning
References: material provided by the professor

Monday, March 23
New goals, approaches and tools of urban development
ETCV (guest-speaker)
References: material provided by the professor and the guest-speaker

Wednesday, March 25
Climate change and the city: dynamics, impacts and issues of planning - 1
Carlo Federico dall’Omo (guest-speaker)
References: material provided by the guest-speaker

Monday, March 30
Climate change and the city: dynamics, impacts and issues of planning - 2
Carlo Federico dall’Omo (guest-speaker)
References: material provided by the guest-speaker

Wednesday, Apr 1
Climate change and the city: dynamics, impacts and issues of planning - 3
Carlo Federico dall’Omo (guest-speaker)
References: material provided by the guest-speaker

Monday, Apr 6
In-class discussion of the assignment “Observing Venice” + formation of group-works

Wednesday, April 8
In-class written test (mid-term exam)

Mid-term break (Apr 13-Apr 17)

Module 2 (Apr 20 - Apr 29)

Monday, April 20
GIS Digital Lab
References: material provided by the professor

Wednesday, April 22
GIS Digital Lab
References: material provided by the professor

Monday, April 27
GIS Digital Lab
References: material provided by the professor

Wednesday, April 29
GIS Digital Lab
References: material provided by the professor

Module 3 (May 4 - May 27)

Monday, May 4
Venice coping with tourism
References: material provided by the professor

Wednesday, May 6
Urban analysis and policy design workshop
References: material provided by the professor

Monday, May 11
Urban analysis and policy design workshop

Wednesday, May 13
Urban analysis and policy design workshop

Monday, May 18
Urban analysis and policy design workshop

Wednesday, May 20
Final revision

Wednesday, May 27
Final in-class presentation of group works
Matteo Basso, Margherita Turvani