Module Objectives

The objectives of the course are as follows:

– Presentation and elevation of the content, aims and significance of planning as a process combining political and scientific / technical components;

– Elevation of the strong relationship between development planning and spatial planning;

– Presentation of the history of urban planning theory since 1945 and interpretation of the successive planning phases and paradigm changes on the basis of the respective historical changes in socio-political contexts and the prevailing trends in philosophy and science;

– Familiarization of the students with urban spatial plans for metropolitan regions and medium and small sized urban settlements;

– Presentation of the Greek urban spatial planning system (tools, processes etc) and enhancement of the capability of the students to analyze and criticize examples of plans on the basis of specific normative and political frameworks;

– Supplying the students with knowledge and skills and political thinking besides so as to be prepared for a profession relevant to planning and negotiation in urban spatial policy-making

Course Content

The lectures include the following topics:  History of Urban Planning since 1945 – The emergence of Strategic and Local Programmes and Spatial Plans – Systems theory and the Comprehensive Planning theory – Planning as a Political Process – Democracy and Planning and the criticism on the Comprehensive Planning model – Implementation theories – Regulation and regime theories – Cooperative Planning – Local Governance and relations with Urban Planning– Urban Planning and Sustainable Development – Resilience versus change / uncertainty in Urban Planning –  Processes of financing and implementation of Strategic and Local Urban Plans – Major international events and Urban Planning – Urban Networks based on Spatial Planning –  Urban Regeneration Plans – Urban Plans focusing on specific and acute social, economic and environmental problems – Examples of Metropolitan Planning and local interventions in urban districts from the Greek and international experience.

Teaching and Assessment

– Theoretical lectures (26 hours).
– Labs / Supervision of work seminars (13 hours).
– Oral presentation (50%), group work and written paper (50%).

The module is also available through eclass platform (http://eclass.hua.gr/courses/GEO100/).