From typological analysis to planning: modern strategies for university spatial quality

Abstract

The quality of Universities is narrowly connected to the quality of its urban&architectural models. The present paper wants to remark the need of facing the necessary changes in the University spatial premises, in order to achieve a sound  transformation towards excellence. Any integral process of such modernization aim must treat with the needed sensitiveness towards the University environment, affecting buildings, outdoor areas and urban locations. Following that innovation goal, the first needed activity must be that of analyzing the different typologies present in the Higher Education seats. A structured awareness of the physical presence given over to Universities is necessary to help optimize their urban and architectural dimension. The interpretation of such physical reality must rest on a wide and deep analysis of the University’s spatial body at its various scales: the first one covers the relation University-city; the second one affects the precincts, understood as global complexes (campus) defined with enough level of spatial autonomy; the third scale corresponds to architectural pieces, assumed as independent buildings; and, finally the fourth and smallest scale has to do with the classroom, understood as the minimum learning cell. Once having developed the described system of urban&architectural typologies, the consequent strategies of transformation of University implantations would be more deeply founded in the real environment of each educational ambit. Those strategies include the application of the “Educational Campus” as an emerging concept valid worldwide, with specific applications in the transformations derived from the European Higher Education Area. Finally, the present text remarks the need of Utopia and planning as necessary attitudes towards University excellence; Utopia has been playing a key role through History as a energy of positive evolution within Higher Education Institutions; an integrated planning for the University physical implantations is a needed activity, valid in any international context, although the specific spatial pattern to be used in each project must be correlated to its specific circumstances, and therefore rooted in the cultural, functional and urban ambit of every precinct.