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Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: CARLO COLLOCA

Expected Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide a critical and updated-sociologically oriented-review of the main architectural and urban planning issues that have affected the city and its transformations in recent decades. The teaching will allow for the development of: a) a reasoned and critical definition of socio-territorial issues; b) a capacity for sociologically oriented analysis with reference to future urban scenarios and evolutionary trends; c) greater awareness of the contribution of the sociological approach to sustainable and participatory territorial planning.

With reference to the Dublin Descriptors, upon completion of the course, female and male students must achieve the following results:

1. Knowledge and comprehension skills. Understanding the specificities of the sociological perspective with reference to the theories and practices of architectural design and design,

2. Applied knowledge and comprehension skills. Ability to analyze and understand: a) identify citizens' needs and aspirations and the design questions they pose regarding contemporary cities; b) understand the main environmental and spatial problems that threaten different urban populations, as well as some of the potential solutions suggested by the main approaches in the disciplinary field; c) delve into the theoretical and political implications of urban regeneration processes, analyzing international case studies, including through the elaboration of an integrated urban regeneration project for a specific area of a territory, highlighting aspects transferable to other urban contexts.

3. Autonomy of judgment. Acquisition of skills in identifying and analyzing quantitative-qualitative data; ability to critically analyze architectural design with respect to issues of social sustainability; predisposition to reflect on the ethical as well as social responsibilities associated with architectural design with reference to spatial and environmental issues.

4. Communication skills. Knowledge of a sociologically oriented language with a socio-territorial key suitable for engaging with the sciences of city and landscape design.

5. Ability to learn. Knowing how to apply the main interpretative and methodological paradigms for understanding and studying the socio-economic and cultural effects of architectural design and design in contemporary urban scenarios.

Course Structure

Teaching will focus on lectures, seminar activities on some specific topics, study of research cases and possibly the development of individual and/or group projects. In addition to the oral presentation of the topics covered, the teacher will make use of IT and audiovisual media.

Required Prerequisites

Knowledge of the socio-territorial approach in sociology, main theories and methods.

Attendance of Lessons

Attendance is not mandatory. There are no intermediate tests. Group/individual works are planned for the in-depth study of certain topics; these works will constitute an integral part of the exam. Participation in group work is subject to attendance at teaching.

Detailed Course Content

The course is inspired by the contents of the UN 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development with specific reference to the following Goals.

Goal 9 – “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure”

Goal 10 – “Reduced Inequalities”

Goal 11 – “Sustainable Cities and Communities”

Goal 13 – “Climate Action”

Goal 14 – “Life Below Water”

Goal 15 – “Life on Land”

The following topics will be the subject of the course: a) Cities, emotions, and spaces of the imaginary; b) Cities, landscape, and the responsibility of architecture; c) Models of urban regeneration: practices of social innovation and integrated territorial development; d) Socio-economic, cultural, and environmental sustainability of architectural design; e) Socio-cultural and spatial dimensions of participatory design.

Textbook Information

- A. MAGNIER, "L'agire architettonico", in A. Magnier e P. Russo, Sociologia dei sistemi urbani, il Mulino, Bologna, 2002, pp. 207-241.
- E. GRANATA, Placemaker. Gli inventori dei luoghi che abiteremo, Einaudi, Torino, 2021.
- S. SETTIS, Architettura e democrazia. Paesaggi, città, diritti civili, Einaudi, Torino, 2017, pp. 129-164.
- C. COLLOCA, Città, immigrati e forme dello spazio relazionale, in SOCIOLOGIA URBANA E RURALE, fascicolo 133, 2024, pp. 14-29, https://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/articolo/75401

Course Planning

	Subjects	Text References
1	The theories and methods that underpin design action	A. MAGNIER, L'agire architettonico, in A. Magnier e P. Russo, Sociologia dei sistemi urbani, il Mulino, Bologna, 2002, pp. 207-241.
2	City, landscape and collective values essential for democracy	S. SETTIS, Architettura e democrazia. Paesaggi, città, diritti civili, Einaudi, Torino, 2017, pp. 129-164.
3	Social innovation and architectural innovation	E.GRANATA, Placemaker. Gli inventori dei luoghi che abiteremo, Einaudi, Torino, 2021.
4	Multicultural urban scenarios	C. COLLOCA, Città, immigrati e forme dello spazio relazionale, in SOCIOLOGIA URBANA E RURALE, fascicolo 133, 2024, pp. 14-29, https://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/articolo/75401

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The evaluation will be the outcome of a number of factors, namely active participation in classroom teaching, the critical capacity highlighted, the quality of group and/or individual work assigned by the teacher and the outcome of the final test.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

(A) Contemporary city models: cases compared.

(B) The characteristics of the main participatory strategies for the social planning of the territory.

(D) Land, territoriality and local development.

(E) Territorial marketing and valorisation of local resources.

Degree Course in

Sociology of networks, information and innovation