The Design theme is: Preservation and enhancement of an historic productive landscape, with particular reference to the rural and peri-urban areas, through the reuse of existing artifacts, new functions and active protection of the territory and the use of agronomic and historical-cultural resources. 

The educational objectives of the Studio are:

• To know and to apply tools and methods for analyzing landscape and designing in and with the landscape at different scale;
• To study the organizational structures and forms of settlements with regard to rural and peri-urban areas, their interactions with the natural environment and with particular attention to the historic characters of the rural landscape;
• To define strategies for environmental and territorial regeneration, and for building reuse, requalification and enhancement of the rural heritage;
• To provide notions of ecology and agronomy applied to the design, implementation and management of the landscape in its rural and peri-urban component;
• To start thinking about the rural landscape through an innovative approach, based on sustainability (environmental, economic, social and cultural);
• To understand the relationships between environment and society, in its evolutionary dynamics;
• To comprehend agro-systems, biological and agronomic factors, food and industrial farming, as well as processes for the sustainable management of farming systems.

Learning activities are organized through:

• Field visits in different landscapes system: mountain valleys (Valtellina Landscape),  lake and his historical villa system (Como Lake), irrigated plain, river parks (TIcino river, his terraced landscape and the regional park);
• Landscape analysis activity trough in situ sketches, drawing and discussion;
• Lectures and seminars held by the teachers, with the contribution of external speakers;
• Tutoring in the classroom;
• Development of the design process, with verification of progresses at the different scales;
• Final seminar to local stakeholders;
• Supplementary activities extra classroom for the study and research.

A bibliography is provided, together with lectures slides.

According to the 5 Dublin descriptors, qualifications that signify completion of the cycle are awarded to students who:

• Knowledge and understanding: have demonstrated knowledge and understanding and interpretation of different landscapes extended to all levels, from sensitive perception to structural reasons. These skills allow the students to elaborate and/or design transformation and development solutions in the landscapes taken into consideration;
• Applying knowledge and understanding: are able to apply their knowledge, comprehension skills related to solving problems towards issues similar to those studied and not familiar, inserted in wider (or interdisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study;
• Making judgements: have the ability to integrate knowledge and manage complexity, as well as to formulate judgments, including reflections on the disciplinary themes social and ethical responsibilities related to the proposals formulated;
• Communication skill: communicate their conclusions, and the knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences clearly and unambiguously;
• Lifelong learning skills: have developed those learning skills that enable them to autonomously explore the issues within their competence

The topics will focus on:

• Landscape design  principles and references
• Reading and assessing historical transformations: Landscape as a system at different scales: 
• Conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage (tangible and intangible) and sustainability;
• Urban and peri-urban agriculture and cultural heritage;
• Notions of ecology, botany and agronomy;
• Agrarian landscape and socio-economic resources;
• European agricultural policy and his effects on the landscape;
• Green infrastructures and biodiversity.

no entry requirements

The evaluation is based on an oral discussion about the final design and the analysis activities carried on along the course.

Groups of 3/4 students are going to develop projects that will be evaluated according to the following aspects: quality of the idea in accordance with the principles and methods proposed; ability of argumentation and representation; quality of products and their formalization, such as drawings, models movies; learning ability in group collaboration, sustainability of the proposal.

During the course, a number of learning progress checks will be scheduled and evaluated and the results will be taken into account in determining the outcome of the final exam. For the final exam, the students will submit the design drawings, with his collection of analysis and preparatory studies.