The course consists of two joint and integrated modules (Ethnographical approaches in urbanism and Urban survey), targeting students enrolled in the Master of Science in Urban Planning-Policy Design as well as in the Master of Science in Architecture.

The course aims at developing an ethnographical approach meant as a way to develop competences in understanding the city through observing, describing, interpreting and representing the urban space in its material and social configurations and changes. A main objective of the course is to develop competences in researching, interpreting and describing through texts and photo reportages how urban spaces work.

At the end of the course, students are expected to have developed:

- the awareness that cities and urban spaces are material evidences and witness the kind of relations, of social and spatial assets that architecture, urban planning and social practices produce;

- awareness of the ways in which an etnographic approach can contribute to the work of urban planners and architects dealing with places and people;

- competences in developing an effective and sound analysis and understanding of the material, symbolical and social dimension of how space is designed, implemented and used;

- capacity to understand the intertwining of social and spatial issues at stake in the functioning of public space;

- capacity to develop original and effective ways to report field work observations and to represent and communicate outcomes in an effective and diversified way (i.e. photos, texts, presentations...)

Different means and “tactics” to develop ethnographical approaches as well as to represent their outcomes will be explored, with particular attention to photography. Along with references to the tradition of ethnographical studies, students will learn the logic of direct participant observation, the analysis of social practices, forms of interviewing and other approaches to social and spatial analysis which can support the understanding and interpretation of the way urban space is organized and results as the combined product of human and non-human actors.

The course is organized in a sequence of different activities aimed at developing an ethnographical approach: 

1. LECTURES: Theoretical contributions and focuses on methodological issues, readings and discussion of papers and articles as well as class exercises (role-playing, etc.) as well as the presentation and discussion of case studies.

2. SHORT EXCURSIONS in selected urban spaces to interpret and decode a given urban context/ project. 

3. SEMINARS: Seminars will be proposed during the whole course: a set of open seminars given by invited scholars and professionals on the course approaches and topics will be jointly organized with some other cooperating and partner courses (such as the Workshop on Infrastructure Planning and Design). Materials, documents, texts and references presented in class will be made available online to the participants.

4. A FIELD EXERCISE - "SPACE AS AN ACTOR. THE HIDDEN RULES OF THE CITY": Based on an exploration (through direct observation and photography), students will develop an individual essay on the role that rules have in the way places are used, organised and designed. The city as a complex environment is densely framed by norms and rules that dictate the way in which objects, buildings, private and public spaces are conceived and used for human action. Rules and norms are often not explicitly visible, but they act as a hidden code and have a strong impact on the way in which life in the city is experienced. They are a social and cultural construct leading also to spatial effects. While globalisation and standardisation have a relevant impact in shaping the urban environment across the world, in each different context rules and norms may be different, and give evidence to the diverse use that people with different background make of the same place. The topic will be introduced, discussed and fine-tuned in class, while each student will define her/his more specific focus, and will be supported in developing original individual work. A set of initiatives on the topic are being foreseen, while a final seminar will be organized for the presentation and discussion of the field exercises. At the end of the course, a report will collect the individual work developed by each student.

• SDG10 - REDUCED INEQUALITIES
• SDG11 - SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

Three-year bachelor degree (Laurea Triennale) in one of the subjects required for admission to the Master of Science (Laurea Magistrale) course

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