Revitalisation of Public Spaces in Historic Cities Based on Sustainable Development Principles
Revitalisation of Public Spaces in Historic Cities Based on Sustainable Development Principles
Adaptation of Historic public space to climate change
Course description
The MOOC “Revitalisation of Public Spaces in Historic Cities Based on Sustainable Development Principles” provides core competencies for students and professionals in architecture and urban design. The course aims to develop the ability to understand, conserve, and adapt historic public spaces through permanent arrangements, greenery, and street furniture, balancing heritage values with contemporary social, environmental, and functional needs. It fosters critical thinking and interdisciplinary approaches to designing inclusive, sustainable, and human-centred public spaces in historic urban contexts.
Total workload of the course: 7 hours
This MOOC is provided by Politecnico di Milano.
This MOOC is one of the outputs of the Green Action project (Green & sustainable public spaces in historic cities - innovative teaching programme) (No. KA220-HED-84C9397A)
Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union
This project has received funding from the European Union under grant agreement n° KA220-HED-84C9397A. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those ot the European Commission- Euratom. Nether the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By actively participating in this MOOC, you will achieve different intended learning outcomes (ILOs).
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Knowledge and Understanding
Climate Change Dynamics: The specific impacts of global climate change on the physical and social fabric of historic public spaces. ESCO: climate change impact
Sustainable Infrastructure: The theoretical foundations and practical applications of Green and Blue Infrastructures within urban contexts. ESCO: sustainable building design
Nature-Based Solutions (NbS): The principles of implementing NbS to enhance urban resilience while respecting heritage constraints. ESCO: urban sustainability ESCO: sustainable building design
Urban Theory: General theories of form, composition, and architectural typologies as they relate to historic city centres. ESCO: green space strategies ESCO: architecture and town planning
Ecological Principles: Advanced knowledge of ecology, resource conservation, and environmental sustainability in urban planning. ESCO: urban sustainability -
Intellectual and Cognitive Skills
Critical Evaluation: Critically analyse case studies of European cities to identify and adapt best practices for local contexts. ESCO: architectural conservation
Strategic Problem-Solving: Formulate innovative solutions to complex urban challenges, balancing modern sustainability needs with heritage preservation. ESCO: urban sustainability ESCO: urban planning
Interdisciplinary Synthesis: Integrate information from diverse fields, including architecture, ecology, and digital technology, to inform design decisions. ESCO: integrated design
Ethical Judgement: Apply ethical commitment and recognition of multiculturalism when intervening in diverse historic environments. -
Practical and Professional Skills
Urban Design Execution: Conceive, plan, and develop comprehensive urban revitalisation projects, including landscaping and gardening layouts. ESCO: sustainable building design ESCO: urban sustainability ESCO: urban planning
Digital Proficiency: Utilise advanced digital tools and software for the design, modelling, and presentation of architectural projects. ESCO: digital and technology-based competences
Functional Programming: Develop functional programmes specifically tailored for sustainable and accessible urban spaces. ESCO: sustainable building design ESCO: urban sustainability ESCO: urban planning
Site Analysis: Conduct practical on-site analyses of historic locations to evaluate real-world conservation and rehabilitation needs. ESCO: landscape analysis -
Transferable and Key Skills
Autonomous Learning: Manage self-directed study and adapt to new professional or academic situations.
Prerequisites
No formal knowledge is required.
Activities
Over and above consulting the content, in the form of videos and other web-based resources, you will have the opportunity to discuss course topics and to share ideas with your peers in the Forum of this MOOC. The forum of this MOOC is freely accessible, and participation is not guided; you can use it to compare yourself with other participants, or to discuss course contents with them.
Section outline
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Video transcripts Folder
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Assessment
Your final grade for the course will be based on the results of your answers to the assessed quizzes. You have an unlimited number of attempts at each quiz, but you must wait 15 minutes before you can try again. You will have successfully completed the course if you score 60% (or higher) in each one of the assessed quizzes. The maximum score possible for each quiz is given at the beginning of the quiz. You can view your score in the quiz on your last attempt or on the 'Grades' page.
Certificate
You can achieve a certificate in the form of an Open Badge for this course, if you reach at least 60% of the total score in each one of the assessed quizzes and fill in the final survey.
Once you have completed the required tasks, you will be able to access ‘Get the Open Badge’ and start issuing the badge. Instructions on how to access the badge will be sent to your e-mail address.
The Badge does not confer any academic credit, grade or degree.
Information about fees and access to materials
The course is delivered in online mode and is available free of charge.
Course faculty
Francisco Javier Abarca-Álvarez
Teacher
Associate Professor in Urban and Spatial Planning at the University of Granada, Spain. PhD in Architecture, expert in Urban Planning, University degree in Advanced Methods of Applied Statistics. Visiting Professor at the Universities of Applied Sciences in Nysa, Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Architecture at the University of Porto, Genoa, and Rome Tre University; Guest Researcher at La Sapienza University in Rome, Eindhoven University, and the Technical University of Berlin. Author of over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications. Principal Investigator in several projects addressing humanitarian vulnerability in the Sahel and Central America. Founding partner of a University of Granada spin-off company specializing in the analysis of regional data for international humanitarian purposes.
David Arredondo Garrido
Teacher
Associate Professor in Theory and History of Architecture, University of Granada (Spain). PhD in Architecture (Extraordinary Award for Doctoral Thesis) and Master in Architecture and Historical Heritage from the University of Seville. Visiting researcher at the Technische Universität Berlin, the Interdisciplinary Center for Social Studies at the University of Évora, the Universität für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna, the Università degli Studi in Florence, the Università Roma Tre, and professor at the University of Málaga. Director of the academic journal SOBRE, Prácticas Editoriales en Arte y Arquitectura and coordinator of the Conferences Cultura y Ciudad. He has participated in the development of the Andalusian Register of Contemporary Architecture (RAAC) and the SUDOE for the province of Granada.
Kamila Boguszewska
Teacher
Doctor of technical sciences, architect, landscape architect, researcher at the Lublin University of Technology, her research focuses on the adaptation of public spaces of historic cities to climate change and the development of urban green infrastructure, designs public spaces, city parks, and revalorises historical park greenery. Author of more than 30 scientific publications.
David Cabrera-Manzano
Teacher
PhD Architect, Associate Professor and researcher in Urban and Spatial Planning at the University of Granada since 2002. Expert in Public Space, Urban Design, Landscape and Spatial Planning. Throughout his professional and research career, his research has focused on urbanity, mobility, public space, and landscape, as well as the cultural dimension of the landscape and the urbanity of the territory, like Master Plan for the Historic Center of Santa Fe (2009) and - ICPUG - Cultural itineraries of urban heritage of Granada (2014). He currently works on metropolitan landscapes and on the relationship between the local and regional scale, with a special interest in health, environmental and social sustainability.
Nora Lombardini
Teacher
Assistant professor and, currently, associate professor, in Restoration at Politecnico di Milano, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering. Research activity: on history and theory of restoration of historical buildings and cultural heritage; analysis of traditional and modern constructive system; analysis of mechanical behavior of historical structures; studies on the conservation of historic centers. Author of scientific papers. International experience in organizing students’ practical work in Ukraine.
Fernando Osuna-Pérez
Teacher
Fernando Osuna-Pérez, PhD Architect, Associate Lecturer of Architectural Design at the School of Architecture at the University of Granada. He develops his research lines in the spatial interaction Infrastructure-Architecture-Landscape, the ecosystemic regeneration in urban environments and the project in the historic city. He is currently coordinating the Management Plan for the world heritage site “Historic Centre of Cordoba”.
Boguslaw Szmygin
Teacher
Professor, head of Department of Conservation of Built Heritage at Civil Engineering and Architecture Faculty (2006+); Dean of Civil Engineering and Architecture Faculty PL (2005–2012, 2016+). President ICOMOS Poland (2018+); general secretary of International Scientific Committee of Theory and Philosophy of Conservation (2009+). He specializes in protection and conservation of architectural monuments (theory of conservation, revitalization of historical towns, protection and conservation of architectural monuments, World Heritage issues). Author of over 100 scientific articles; organizer of scientific conferences, scientific and educational programmes; author of over 50 screenplays for educational films. Scientific coordinator of 15 projects.
Sofia Velichanskaia
Teacher
Graduate of Master degree “Architectural Design and History” in Politecnico di Milano. Currently a research fellow at Politecnico di Milano, in the Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering.
Contact details
If you have any enquiries about the course or if you need technical assistance please contact pok@polimi.it. For further information, see FAQ page.