The course introduces students to the fundamental issues of local planning, spatial development, and place-making, with a focus on holistic and integrated approaches to planning at the local scale. Through lectures, discussions, case study presentations, site visits, and studio-based exercises, students explore the relationships between public policy, urban design, governance, and implementation tools in shaping urban space.
The course addresses key themes such as municipalities’ responsibilities in planning, public procurement, public–private partnerships, and current planning instruments including Lex Developer and the Integrated Investment Plan (ZPI). Students work with real urban contexts particularly through case study to analyze local spatial conditions, identify planning challenges, and develop strategic responses.
Through individual and group exercises, students prepare planning concepts and action plans for comprehensive local development projects, integrating spatial, social, economic, and implementation perspectives. The course emphasizes critical thinking, teamwork, and practical planning methods, allowing students to understand local planning as both a strategic and design-oriented process connected to real-world urban transformation.
- Teacher: Bahaa Bou Kalfouni