Urban Planning

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course highlights the challenges urban planning has to address. Emphasis is placed on analysing the basic principles and tools of urban planning and the regulatory framework of urban planning in Greece. A historical overview of the models and typologies of cities at the international, European and national levels is performed. The evolution of the city and urban planning notions is also examined. The current institutional/legal framework for urban planning in Greece is also discussed in relation to the effects of the economic crisis. The procedures for the preparation, approval and implementation of urban studies, building regulations, and current licensing procedures are analysed. At the same time, the various types of plans and studies in Greece at the different levels of planning are discussed. Moreover, the role and responsibilities of public and private bodies involved and the importance of participatory decision-making in urban planning are recorded and highlighted. Finally, the use and importance of modern technologies and cutting-edge techniques in urban planning are pointed out.

 

General Competences

• Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology
• Adapting to new situations
• Decision-making
• Working independently
• Teamwork
• Criticism and self-criticism
• Production of free, creative and inductive thinking

 

SYLLABUS

1. City and urban planning: Historical analysis.
2. Urban development models and city typology.
3. Analysis of basic concepts (settlement, city, urbanization, functions, socio-economic parameters, etc.)
4. Urban land uses. Urban planning problems.
5. Urban studies and urban planning.
6. Implementation of urban planning studies.
7. Building regulations and other regulatory legislation for construction. Approval- building permit and urban planning provisions.
8. Analysis of the evolution of the legal framework for urban planning in Greece. Design levels and types of plans/ studies.
9. Public and private bodies involved in urban planning. Participation in decision-making in urban planning.
10. Modern technologies and urban planning: Cartographic archives and cutting-edge techniques.
11. The role of topographers / geoinformatics engineers in urban studies.

 

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Language of evaluation: Greek
– Methods of evaluation:
• Written exam at the end of the semester (multiple choice questionnaires, short-answer questions, & problem-solving questions)
– Study/ Essay (Essay on the theoretical and practical objectives of the course)

 

ATTACHED BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Jenks M., Dempsey, N. (2005). Future forms and design for sustainable cities. Routledge.
2. Rydin Y. (2012). Governing for sustainable urban development. Routledge.
3. Wheeler S.M., Beatley T. (Eds.). (2014). Sustainable urban development reader. Routledge.
4. European Commission, ‘A new Partnership for Cohesion; Convergence, Competitiveness, Cooperation (7th report on economic and social cohesion’, European Communities, 2017.
5. European Commission, ‘ESDP, European Spatial Development Perspective’, European Communities, 1999.
6. Hall P. ‘Urban and Regional Planning’. 4th Edition. Routledge. London and New York, 2002.
7. OECD, ‘Towards a New Role for Spatial Planning, OECD Publications, 2001.
8. Reimer M., Getimis, P., Blotevogel H. ‘Spatial Planning Systems and Practices in Europe. A Comparative Perspective on Continuity and Changes’, (eds), Routledge, New York, 2014.

 

Websites
1. ECTP-CEU (European Council of Spatial Planners – Conseil européen des urbanistes), http://www.ectp-ceu.eu/
2. European Commission / Regional Policy, http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_el.cfm/
3. ESPON, (European Observation Network for Territorial Development and Cohesion), http://www.espon.eu/main/
4. ISOCARP (International Society of City and Regional Planners), http://www.isocarp.org/
5. United Nations Development Programme, http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home.html/