Local Cultures – Global Spaces

Abstract

This paper presents the work of an undergraduate study-abroad urban design studio in Florence, Italy. The first few weeks in Florence were spent researching and analyzing varied precedents, everything from urban theory, planning examples, Eco infrastructure, and relevant Italian architecture. Nine districts in the historic center of Florence were also analyzed to better understand the phenomenology of Tuscany. Based on this scholarship, students were asked to make value judgments and evaluate schemes, realizing final urban design proposals for a new neighborhood in Florence. The City of Florence presented architecture students with great challenges and great opportunities. Let us not mince words: Creating change in this city is a difficult task. Urban designers need that rare mix of vision and pragmatism. As such, the task for this undergraduate study-abroad urban design studio was to continue to explore ways to improve the city, ameliorate problems, and contribute to civic life. The site is a mile-long industrial/rural landscape west of the city center along the Arno River. The goal was to create a new urban district, hosting residents that included, Syrian refugee families, young Italian families, urban professionals, university students, and retired/elderly individuals. Green living initiatives were incorporated throughout the schemes with the new district serving as a leader in contemporary Eco values. This larger picture revealed a hybrid of traditional patterns and technological innovations that maintained the urban character of Florence while progressing forward ecologically. The results delineate a diverse and culturally rich future for 2040 Florence.