The course content is about presenting, explaining and critically examining theories about planning as formulated by urban and spatial theorists (theory) or as implemented through spatial policies (practice). These two dimensions are now all the more interesting, in view of the current trend of theory to ‘come back’ on the international scene in close relation to real world projects/ practice procedures, after a prolonged period of domination of practice.

The basic axes of the course are the following:

• Introduction to planning theories
• issues, procedure and evolution of planning theories
• theories of well-being and planning
• theoretical approaches to town planning
• alternative types of planning
• SWOT analysis
• modernism-postmodernism
• ‘pop’ town planning
• ‘why are we planning?’ and relative questions
• the perception of space– space and senses
• the question of meaning – semiotics, spatial practices and the press
• space, region and territory
• planning and the issue of uncertainty
• planning theory and practice in relation to socio-economic conditions
• space, cinema and television

AIM & OBJECTIVES

The main aim of the course is the development of inquiring and critical thinking on major topics regarding both actual practice paradigms and the theoretical foundations of planning. The main objective of the course is to comprehensively address theoretical issues, in close relation to real world applications, mainly in the fields of Urban and Regional planning that cover two (out of three) basic components of the Department’s curriculum.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

How are they specialized according to the following categories?

Knowledge

Gaining both general and specialized knowledge of classical and contemporary theories concerning space, its production and planning.

Skills

Gaining the opportunity to critically comprehend theories and related concepts.

Competencies

Ability to analyze theoretical texts or proposals and evaluate the results of their implementation

The general competencies that the student should have acquired during the course are:

By taking into account the general competencies that a DPRD graduate student must have obtained (as listed in the Diploma Supplement), the course contributes to the acquisition of the following:

1. Searching, analysis and synthesis of data and information with the use of necessary technologies
2. Personal work
3. Team Work
4. Exercise of Critical Analysis
5. Promotion of free, creative and inductive thinking

All the above are gained through: a) the participation in lectures, which favors active student participation and discussion in the classroom (competencies 3,4,5), and b) the preparation of individual scientific work (competencies 1,2,4,5).

Written exams                         40

Writing of 3 Papers                 50

Participation                            10

There are 3 tasks of a different type (three-group text analysis, two-group dilemmas defense, individual film analysis), in order to cover the variety of learning outcomes, as well as contemporary issues and concepts related to planning theories. The preparation of the papers is monitored by the tutors and involves the analysis and synthesis of theoretical texts and the critical evaluation of the theories under consideration, based on the specialized knowledge acquired by the students, while participating in the course. Through the corrections of the papers and the final presentation, as well as the overall student participation in the lectures, tutors are able to evaluate their performance in the above learning objectives.

The assessment system is sufficient and clear. All the students are aware of it, as it is analyzed in the outline of the course that is distributed in the first lecture and is posted at the eclass.

All courses include an assessment of the tutors, the educational process and the examination process by the students. The evaluation process is carried out anonymously and electronically under the responsibility of the Secretariat under conditions of absolute transparency.

• ΛΑΓΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ Α.-Φ. (2017) Θεωρία και Μεθοδολογία Πολεοδομίας, Αθήνα: Πατάκης.
• ΑΡΑΒΑΝΤΙΝΟΣ Α. (1984/2007), Πολεοδομικός Σχεδιασμός: Για Μία Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη του Χώρου, Αθήνα: Συμμετρία. [τα κεφάλαια 2, 3 και 5]
• ΑΝΔΡΙΚΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ, Ε., ΓΙΑΝΝΑΚΟΥ, Α., ΚΑΥΚΑΛΑΣ, Γ., ΠΙΤΣΙΑΒΑ-ΛΑΤΙΝΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ, Μ. (2007/2014) Πόλη και Πολεοδομικές Πρακτικές: Για τη Βιώσιμη Αστική Ανάπτυξη, Αθήνα: Kριτική.
• COOKE, P. (1983) Theories of Planning and Spatial Development (London: Hutchinson).
• GEHL, JAN (1971/2011) Life between Buildings - 6th Edition, London: Island Press
• HALL, T. (1998/2005) Urban Geography, London: Routledge. [chapters 1, 2 & 6]
• HOWARD, E. (1898/1998) Tomorrow: A peaceful path to real reform, London: Routledge. {1902., Garden Cities of To-Morrow}
• JACOBS, J. (1961/1965) The Death and Life of Great American Cities: The Failure of Town Planning, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books
• KNOX, P. & PINCH, S. (1982/2009) Urban Social Geography – 6th Edition, London: Routledge. [chapters 1, 2, 3, 10 & 14.2]
• LE GATES R.T. & STOUT F. (ed.) (1996/2007) The City Reader (London: Routledge). [mainly the articles of Lynch, Mumford, Howard, Geddes, Hall]
• LEFEBVRE, H. (1974/1991) The Production of Space, Oxford: Blackwell.
• LYNCH, K. (1960) The Image of The City, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard-MIT Joint Center for Urban Studies
• MIKOLEIT A. & PUERKHAUER, M. (2011) 100 Lessons for Understanding the City, Zurich: GTA Verlag.
• PELLEGRINO, P. (2000) Le Sens de l’ Espace I: L’ Epoche et le Lieu, Paris: Anthropos
• SANDERCOCK L. (1998/ 2003) Towards Cosmopolis: Planning for Multicultural Cities (Chichester: John Wiley & Sons). [chapter 4]
• SHORT, J.R. (2006) Urban Theory: A Critical Assessment, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
• SITTE, C. (1889/2006) The Birth of Modern City Planning: With a Translation of the 1889 Austrian Edition of His City Planning According to Artistic Principle, Dover Publications.
• STEVENSON, D. (2003/2007) Cities & Urban Cultures, London: Open University Press. [chapter 4]
• TAYLOR, N. (1998) Urban Planning Theory since 1945 (London: Sage).