Piacenza Re-loaded

North-South corridors

Workbook
URBAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN STUDIO
SPRING 2021

Arc. Urb. Ing. Cos. (Mag.)(ord. 270) - PC (1085)

Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Design -
Architettura Sostenibile e Progetto del Paesaggio ue
ds
Overlook to Piacenza from Cantine Romangnoli
Piacenza Re-loaded
North- South corridors

Workbook
URBAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN STUDIO
SPRING 2021
TEACHING STAFF
DESIGN OF PUBLIC SPACES AND INFRASTRUCTURES: prof. Matteo Motti - matteo.motti@polimi.it
AGRONOMY AND FOOD SCIENCES: prof. Giovanna Fontana - giovanna.fontana@polimi.it
Tutors: Asya Berfu Atalay, Cecilia Losi
Index

1. Main Themes and Contents 6

1.1 Approach 9
1.1 Contents 10
1.2 Main Objectives 11
1.3 Units Organization 12

2. Studio Structure 14
2.1 Steps 17
2.2 Workshop Agenda 19
2.3 Step 01 _ Atlas 20
2.4 Step 02 _ Concept 22
2.5 Step 03 _ Scenario 23
2.6 Step 04 _ Final Review 25
3. Evaluation criteria 29
4. Bibliography 30
1. MAIN THEMES
AND CONTENTS
Figure 1: Rural landscape, a farm building in Piacenza

Figure 2: Co-existence of the rural landscape, grey infrastructure in Piacenza

Main Themes and Contents

1. 1 Studio Approach

Urban and Environmental Design studio focuses on the changing relationship between urban and rural
areas, with the aim of defining design proposals able to re-organize the open spaces and enhance spaces of
co-habitation between different “urban” and “rural” ways of life.

The Design studio activity takes advantages from the contribution of two disciplines: urban design
and agronomy and food sciences. According to an interdisciplinary approach, Design Studio proposes a
proactive manner to planning peri-urban areas, endorsing the reason of the open and agricultural spaces,
taking into account the relevance of the multifunctional agriculture in peri-urban areas, due to the societal
and lifestyle transitions in these areas.

Design studio offers also a different view of agricultural landscapes planning. For this, it will be proposed a
conceptual model of agricultural landscape dynamics that illustrates the specific contribution of agronomy
to landscape planning. This model describes the relationship between three elements: farming practices
(food and energy production), landscape patterns (conventional vs agroecological landscape) and natural
resources (water, soil and biodiversity). To avoid potential risk of misunderstanding and underestimating
the role of farming practices in peri-urban and rural landscapes dynamics, which could lead to ineffective
management decisions regarding these landscapes, the Design studio offers an effective interdisciplinary
approach that includes agronomic and environmental knowledge and tools.

Grappling with the urban and rural in non-dualistic ways, the Design studio offers analytical and design
tools to dealing with hybrid forms of landscapes characterizing the peri-urban fringes, re-defining the
peri-urban agriculture and its functions as a producer of goods and services for the citizens.

In this framework and from a project-oriented viewpoint, the Design studio will be finalized to :
selecting relevant issues relate to the urban-rural transition;
representing landscapes and urban practices where we can read the urban-rural transition;
integrate the goals of agricultural production into the multiple objectives of the landscape design and
management; testing a research by design approach, using the project as a mean of knowledge and research
of urban-rural fringes, rather than a final prefiguration of a probable future.

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1.2 Mission

The mission of this studio is to understand how we can ameliorate and qualify the contemporary territories
and habitats trough the disciplines of Urbanism and Landscape architecture.
What do we mean with quality and what does it means to bring quality into a given context are two
questions that will be answered during studio’s activities. In the meantime we strongly believe that is
mandatory to understand the phenomena relying below the crisis and mutations of specific territories: is it
possible to recognize problems and reasons that strongly affect these habitats?
During studio activities we aim to explore these research questions through research by design. Research
by design means to consider the project as a knowledge construction process rather then a problem solving
process.

The crisis of old models of capitalist land development and the raise of a strong awareness about the
importance of environmental issues and of the preservation of the land worth a necessary reconsideration
for the renewal of contemporary European urban regions. In this occasion the studio focuses on Piacenza
Region and its North-South infrastructural realms.
The studio focuses on exploratory design proposals aiming at re-interpreting the role of physical networks
and infrastructures in the design of the city.

Water system, mobility infrastructures, ecological/environmental corridors, energy productions are crucial
systems that need to be shaped and design within the city and territories according to new technologies
and best practices. Re-profiling/re-defining/re-imagining infrastructures is today a crucial topic for urban
renewal, especially if we consider the fragility of our environment. Problems such as the management of
the water cycle, the enhancement of public transport, the developments of alternative modes of energy
production, will be considered as drivers for the design explorations. At the same time, it seems necessary
to transcend a merely technical approach that frames networks in specialized disciplines; the studio will
rather try to develop design strategies being able to achieve a comprehensive, synthetic perspective on
problems, focusing on networks capacity of influencing and transforming the form of the city.
The Studio will critically reconsider the infrastructural realm of Piacenza and its own territory. According
to the future visions elaborated in the Piano Strutturale Comunale of Piacenza municipality the students
will explore different scenarios able to bust the potentiality of several key system running North-South.

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1.3 Main studio objectives

The studio will focus on the practice of ‘design’ as a particular form of enquiry into the built environment.
Students’ work will be directed at understanding how current design culture and practice can adequately
cope with ongoing urban changes, how to redefine design tools in relation to the actual dynamics of urban
transformation and, finally, how the present urban challenges feed back into the theory of design.
All studio activity is oriented to give advanced design tools to handle complexity in the process of city
mutation, adaptation and construction. The unit allow students to develop an open-minded, historically
informed approach to issues of contemporary urbanism and landscape architecture.

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1.4 Units Organization

The units work is divided among two equally important parts: studio activities and lectures.
Students will work in small groups (about 3/4 people) , depending on the total number of students. Regular
design reviews will be scheduled almost every week. In order to stimulate the debate among the entire class
for the weekly review sometimes every group should present their work in front of the entire class. It is
up to the groups to set up a ppt presentation or to hang posters on the wall. Every group has 20 minutes
including the time for comments by the teaching staff. After these formal reviews groups can keep working
in class and have informal reviews with the teaching staff, if the day is yet not finished.

Intermediate deliveries will challenge students to clearly communicate and to discuss the main topics of
their work-in-progress. The presentations will serve as major forums for debate among students, teaching
staff, and invited visiting scholars or practitioners. The amount of time for these presentation will increase
up to 30 minutes.

Lectures and seminars with invited guests will focus on current discourses and debates around the role of
design and planning within the on-going process of city transformation focusing on the habitability of the
city.

Before the individual examination and as a conclusion of the studio activities a Final Review will be set
up. Each group will present their work with the support of a ppt presentation, a A4 report, 2/3 panels and
ideally a physical model.

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 1 km
Figure 3: Study area, Piacenza North-South infrastructures/systems.

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2. STUDIO
STRUCTURE
2. Studio Structure

2.1 Project Steps

The course will be organized in three consequent steps, followed by a final review ending up with an
individual examination.

• Step 01 _ Atlas
Providing a description of the territory and its main related issues

• Step 02 _ Concept
Outlining the Project, moving from territorial issues toward design themes

• Step 03 _ Scenario
Designing of the re-configuration scheme

• Step 04 _ Final Review

Final presentation of the studio results

• Step 05_ Oral Examination

Individual exam based on the bibliography and lectures contents

Step 01, 02, 03 and 04 are compulsory for applying to the exam.
Groups that won’t hand in required materials on time at the end of each step will be highly
disadvantaged in the final evaluation.

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2.2 Workshop Agenda evaluation
with marks
morning afternoon

lecture
Feb. 25 studio kick off +
groups formation

Mar. 4 reviews reviews

step 01 | Atlas
Lecture

Mar. 11 +
reviews
reviews

Lecture

Mar. 18 +
reviews
reviews

Mar. 25 Delivery step 01

+
start phase 02

Apr. 1 seminar seminar

Lecture
Apr. 8 +
reviews
reviews
step 02 | Concept
Lecture
Apr. 15 +
reviews
reviews

Lecture
Apr. 22 +
reviews
reviews

Apr. 29 Delivery step 02

+
start phase 03

May 06 seminar seminar

Lecture
May 13 +
reviews
reviews
step 03 | Scenario

May 20 reviews reviews

May 27 reviews reviews

Jun. 3 Final Review

(with guest critiques)
step 04 | Final Review

during exam session Individual oral exam step 05 | Oral exam

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2.3 Step 01 _ Atlas
2.3.1 Issues

Mapping delivery and process is focused on 4 issues:

History | Heritage

Land | Nature | Ecology

Demography | People | Life

Economies | Processes | Resources

2.3.2 Objectives
Step 01 aims to develop an Atlas as an interpretative reading of the context, made of maps, sketches,
schemes, infographics, data interpretations, etc. This step is finalized to create a common background and
a strong interpretation of Piacenza and its infrastructures in order to fulfill and orient the following design
explorations. We consider the Atlas as a crucial operation able to frame the territorial palimpsest (Corboz
1983) and able to provoque a (design) debate upon the challenges for this urban and rural context.

2.3.3 Units Organization

Each one of the four issues will be analyzed by 2/3 groups .

2.3.4 Schedule
Step 01 will start on Feb. 25 and will last three weeks till March 18

2.3.5 Delivery
A4 portrait Report + 1 A1 portrait panels + presentation

2.3.6 Evaluation criteria

1. Ideas and contents
2. Logic of the discourse and structure of the work
3. Quality of materials, such as schemes, maps, sections, plans etc.
4. Clarity of speech

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2.3.7 Useful data resources

Georeferenced environmental and territorial data:

https://territorio.regione.emilia-romagna.it/cartografia-interattiva
http://www.mokagis.it/html/applicazioni_mappe.asp
http://geoportale.regione.emilia-romagna.it/it/download/databasetopografico
http://geoportale.regione.emilia-romagna.it/it/download/databasetopografico
https://www.provincia.pc.it/pagina.php?IDpag=278&idbox=49&idvocebox=302
Local planning tool for the municipal territory
PSC_Piano Strutturale Comunale del Comune Di Piacenza (available file.pdf)
https://www.comune.piacenza.it/temi/territorio/psc/documenti-relativi-al-psc
https://www.comune.piacenza.it/temi/territorio/psc/psc-documento-preliminare/allegato-2-masterplan-
aree-militari/view
https://www.comune.piacenza.it/temi/territorio/scalo-ferroviario-al-polo-logistico/ortofoto-con-ipotesi-
collocazione-binari-al-polo-logistico/view
https://www.comune.piacenza.it/temi/territorio/nuovo-ospedale/possibili-aree-nuovo-ospedale-lug-
lio-2019

2.3.8 References

Corboz, André. 1983.“The land as Palimpsest.” In Diogenes, vol.31, issue121.

Corner, James. 1999. “The Agency of Mapping. Speculation, Critique and Invention.” In Mappings
edited by Cosgrove, Denis. London: Reaktion Books.
Kahn, Andrea. 2005. “Defining Urban Sites.” In Site Matters: Design, Concepts, Histories, and Strate-
gies edited by Carol J.Burns and Andrea Kahn. New York and London: Routledge.
Misrach, Richard and Kate Orff. 2012. Petrochemical America. New York: Aperture Foundation.
Khanna, Parag. 2016. Connectography. Mapping the Future of Global Civilization.London: Hachette UK.
Sijmons, D., Hugtenburg, J. and Van Hoorn, A. 2014, Landscape and Energy Designing Transition, Nai
Publisher, Amsterdam.
Beelen, K., “Imag(en)ing the Real_The Region as a Project of Cartographic Re-Configuration” in De-
signing for a region, Nency Meijismans.
Thackara, J. 2011, “How to make Systems Thinking sexy” in changeobserver.

http://www.latitude-platform.eu/
http://issuu.com/bloggymary/docs/ignismutatrespruvostlucas
http://issuu.com/ettoredonadoni/docs/rappresentare_le_reti_120210_web
http://www.studio-basel.com/publications/books/switzerland-an-urban-portrait.html

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2.4 Step 02 _ Concept

2.4.1 Themes
Concept phase is focused on defining a guiding/inspiring figure and metaphor able to sum-up the key
contents of the re-configuration proposal. It is mandatory that each group consider the Atlas as a com-
mon background to be use as a starting point in order to understand the needs of this territory. Once it
is clear what are the main territorial challanges the concept will follow. This phase moves from territorial
issues toward design themes.

2.4.2 Objectives
Step 02 aims to identify design themes and strategies through the blueprint of a concept made of territo-
rial images, schemes, diagrams, etc.

2.4.3 Schedule
Step 02 will start from April 1 to and will last three weeks, until April 29.

2.4.4 Delivery
A4 portrait Report + 1 A1 portrait panel + presentation

2.4.5 References
Smets, M. 2002, “Raster, Hulse, Lichtung and Montage_Grid, casco, clearing and montage.” in
Topos, n°38 pp.
De Geyter, X., (2002). “After Sprawl. Research on the Contemporary City”. Rotterdam: Nai Publish-
er,.
Waldheim, C. 2010, “On Landscape, Ecology, and other Modifiers to Urbanism” in Landscape
Urbanism, Topos: International Review of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, vol. 7.
Berger, A. 2006, “Drosscape” in The Landscape Urbanism Reader, Princeton Architectural
Press, New York.

UEDS 22
2.5 Step 03 _ Scenario

2.5.1 Themes
Scenario consists of in-depth explorations to verify and finalize design strategies through a multiscalar
approach. As a story from the future this step aims to reveal a different reality that is made by concrete
choices and pahses in time. In order to develop a scenario students must cross different scales and use dif-
ferent design tools.

2.5.2 Objectives
Step 03 aims to verify design themes and strategies through a design process of continuous scale chang-
ing, by plans, sections, axonometries, etc. Hard and soft actions must be envsioned in order to support
the proposal in time and space. Projects sites and intervention will change according to the student’s pro-
posal. Scenarios might be located on specific and critical area or they can cover the entire territory with a
punctual and discountinuos footprint, scenarios might as well be developed along linear elements such as
infrastructural axis.

2.5.3 Schedule
Step 03 will start with on May 6 and will last four weeks, until May 27.

2.5.4 Delivery
A4 portrait Report + 3 A1 portrait panel
presentation

2.5.5 References
Bozzuto P., Costa A., Fabian L., Pellegrini P. (2008). “Storie del futuro. Gli scenari nella progettazione
del territorio”. Roma: Of cina Edizioni.
Fabian L., Pellegrini P. (2012), “ON mobility, Riconcettualizzazioni della mobilité nella citté diffusa”,
Roma: Marsilo. Lanzani, A., Merlini, C., Zan , F. (2016). “Riciclare distretti industriali - Recycling
industrial districts”. Roma: Aracne Editrice.
Macchi Cassia, Cesare, Martina Orsini, Nicolò Privileggio, and Marialessandra Secchi. 2004. X Milano.
Milan: Hoepli. ISBN: 88-203-3242-6.
Scaglione P. (2013). “New Ecologies for osmotic infra/ structures”. Rovereto: GreenTrenDesign Fac-
tory.
Secchi B. (2012), “Infrastrutture per la mobilité e la costruzione del territorio metropolitano. Le ragioni
di una ricerca”, in Fabian L., Pellegrini P.(a cura di), ON mobility, Riconcettualizzazioni della mobilité
nella citté diffusa, Marsilo, Roma, pp. 9 - 15.
Secchi, B., Viganò, P. 2009, “Antwerpen A territory of a new modernity”, SUN Publisher, Amsterdam.
Palboom F., Thomaes S., Stoeckart J., Kieboom C., (2010). “Drawing the ground-Landscape Urbanism
today”. Basel: Birkhauser.
Viganò, P. (2012). “Elements for a Theory of the City as Renewable Resource: Life Cycles, Embodied
Energy, Inclusion. A Design and Research Program”. In: Fabian, L. G., Emanuel; Viganò, P. (eds.) Re-
cycling City, Lifecycles, Embodied Energy, Inclusion. Pordenone: Giavedoni Editore.
http://www.societedugrandparis.fr/
UEDS 23
UEDS 24
2.6 Step 04_Final Review

2.6.1 Objectives
During the Final Review each group will present the results of their work to an external jury. The Jury
will be composed by Academics and Practitionners. We think is relevant for students to receive feedback
at the end of the process from someone that can look and the projects with fresh eyes.

2.6.2 Schedule
Final Review is on the last day of the course, June 3.

2.6.3 Evaluation criteria

1. Ideas and contents
2. Logic of the discourse and structure of the work
3. Quality of materials, such as schemes, maps, sections, plans etc...
4. Clarity of speech

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 3. EVALUATION

UEDS 26
CRITERIA

UEDS 27
UEDS 28
3.1 Evaluation Criteria

3.1.1 Objectives
The final evaluation will assess all the presentations and works produced by each group of students during
the course (Step 01-02-03-04). The evaluation will be completed by an individual discussion about the
contents of the course. Final review will consider the evoultion of the design proposals.

The elements for the evaluation of the individual performance are the following: attendance; active
participation in the group work and reviews; mastery of the team work; mastery of the course contents.
(Lectures and Bibliographical references)

3.1.2 Four criteria

1. Ideas and contents
2. Logic of the discourse and structure of the work
3. Quality of materials, such as schemes, maps, sections, plans etc.
4. Clarity of speech

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 4. BIBLIO

UEDS 30
GRAPHY

UEDS 31
Bibliography
Banham R., (introduction by Anthony Vidler), Los Angeles. The Architecture of Four Ecologies , Editore: Uni-
versity of California Press, Anno edizione: 2001, ISBN: 0520219244

Bélanger, Pierre, “Landscape Infrastructure. Urbanism beyond Engineering.”, Editore: Wageningen University,
Anno edizione: 2013

Angela Colucci Marcello Magoni Scira Menoni, Peri-Urban Areas and Food-Energy-Water Nexus_ Sustainability
and Resilience Strategies in the Age of Climate Change, Editore: Springer International Publishing Switzerland,
Anno edizione: 2017, ISSN: 2366-259X

Corboz, André, The land as Palimpsest, Anno edizione: 1983, ISSN: 1467-7695, Fascicolo: In Diogenes, vol.31,
issue121

De Solà-Morales, Manuel., A Matter of Things, Editore: Rotterdam: NAi Publishers, Anno edizione: 2008,
ISBN: 9789056625207

Garofalo, F.; Feslkenian, J; Motti, M, Fellenord, A Global Village in Transition in The City of the Future, Editore:
BNA Onderzoez, Anno edizione: 2019, ISBN: 9789492474193

Motti, M.; Marin, J., HOUTHALEN-HELCHTEREN NEXT METABOLISM, Anno edizione: 2018, ISSN:
0042-1022, Fascicolo: Urbanistica n°159

Motti, M., Infrastructure as a “renewable resource”: re-cycling artificial rationalities in Limburg, Editore: EPFL,
Anno edizione: 2015, ISSN: 0042-1022, Fascicolo: Horizontal Metropolis

Motti, M.; Secchi, M., Rethinking Infrastructure Towards Synergic Design, Editore: ListLab. Trento, Anno
edizione: 2015, ISBN: 9788898774425

Motti, M.; Connor, B.; Shakhazyan, A; Kevelaerts, A., Framing a void: Day River Hanoy in “Water Urbanisms
- East”, Shannon, K; de Meulder, B. (eds.)., Editore: Park Books, Zurich, Anno edizione: 2013, ISBN: 978-3-
906027-25-8

Secchi B., “Projects, visions, scenarios”, Diary of a planner no. 10 / Planum. The Journal of Urbanism, Editore:
Planum. The Journal of Urbanism, Anno edizione: 2003, ISSN: 1723-0993, Fascicolo: Fascicolo: 7 (vol. 2/2003)

Shannon, Kelly, Bruno De Meulder, Janina Gosseye, and Viviana d’Auria., Water urbanisms, Editore: SUN,
Anno edizione: 2008, ISBN: 9085066727

Sijmons, D., Hugtenburg, J. and Van Hoorn, A., Landscape and Energy. Designing Transition, Editore: Nai Pub-
lisher, Anno edizione: 2014

Smets M, Raster, Hulse, Lichtung and Montage_Grid, casco, clearing and montage, Anno edizione: 2002, Fasci-
colo: Topos n° 38

Viganò, Paola., “Elements for a Theory of the City as Renewable Resource: Life Cycles, Embodied Energy, Inclu-
sion. A Design and Research Program.” In Recycling City, Lifecycles, Embodied Energy, Inclusion, edited by
Lorenzo; Giannotti Fabian, Emanuel; Viganò, Paola, Editore: Giavedoni Editore, Anno edizione: 2012

Thomas Elmqvist,Xuemei Bai,Niki Frantzeskaki,Corrie Griffith,,David Maddox,Timon McPhearson, Urban-

Planet Knowledge towards SustainableCities, Editore: Cambridge University Press, Anno edizione: 2018, ISBN:
9781316647554

Scenario Journal https://scenariojournal.com

A Green Infrastructure Guide for Small Cities, Towns and Rural Communities https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloud-
front.net/greenbelt/pages/5202/attachments/original/1504021812/Green_Infrastructure_Final.pdf?1504021812

UEDS 33
URBAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN STUDIO
TEACHING STAFF
DESIGN OF PUBLIC SPACES AND INFRASTRUCTURES: prof. Matteo Motti - matteo.motti@polimi.it
AGRONOMY AND FOOD SCIENCES: prof. Giovanna Fontana - giovanna.fontana@polimi.it
Tutors: Asya Berfu Atalay, Cecilia Losi
ue
ds

Politecnico di Milano
Scuola di Architettura Urbanistica Ingegneria delle Costruzioni
Arc. Urb. Ing. Cos. (Mag.)(ord. 270) - PC (1085)