"The main role of the art of building is to make our life pleasant and happy, an invaluable vita beata"-Marco Frascari. Vita Beata-the blessed life, the good life-this is why we design and ultimately build. Designers too often forget this important reality and unwittingly design places which may serve the financial expediency of their clients, or their own intellectual hubris, but entirely miss this highest aim of architecture. Such an epicurean design position demands that the highest priority be placed on architectural relationships and conditions which serve people in their endeavor to be reconciled and at peace with their surroundings. This thesis examines three such relationships: the relationship of the house with neighboring houses, the relationship of the house with its site, and the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces. Houses built under today's urban (or suburban) sprawl paradigm often create dysfunction and disharmony in these critical relationships and subtly alienate and harass people in their daily efforts to fulfill their most fundamental human desires. Several precedents from master architects are considered which actively address these important relationships, with very positive results. A small, multi-unit, residential project is proposed with respect to these relationships and in response to the harmful practices of urban sprawl. Our culture desperately needs relevant proposals from architects which address the blight of urban sprawl. Too often, architectural ideas are limited in their relevance because they are conceived in utopian notions that disregard, or naively overlook, important contextual factors and relationships. / Master of Architecture

Under conventional residential development practices, minimum lot sizes are established by zoning ordinances. Under these requirements, a piece of property is subdivided into as many lots as allowed. This results in suburban development where all land is committed to individually owned parcels. The objective of this thesis is to defend the preservation of open space as a necessary component of rural residential development and to establish a set of criteria that are fundamental to open space design. Concerns for developers, planners, and homeowners in response to the open space preservation movement are identified and addressed. In addition, the three major alternative development approaches, in which the preservation of open space is a fundamental priority, are detailed. From these alternative development approaches, a list of criteria are developed to be used in the evaluation or preparation of open space site designs. A 96 acre site in the Tom’s Creek Basin of Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Virginia is used as a case study for the preparation of an open space site design that fulfills the requirements of a proposed rural residential zoning ordinance for Blacksburg. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

No / The famous Celtic site of Entremont, well known for its head cult and warrior statues, is a heritage gem of southern France. This naturally inhibits further excavation there, but the authors show just how much can be achieved through an integrated package of remote mapping techniques. Their exemplary methodology produced more than a high resolution plan of the unexcavated part of the site; this type of integrated procedure generates ground-breaking research, without breaking any ground. Here the investigation mobilised arguments for pre-urban monuments, and the activities, enclosures, entrances and circulation of the oppidum.

Yes / Two seasons of geophysical prospection (magnetic, resistance and ground-penetrating radar) were conducted at the Iron Age oppidum of Le Castellan, Istres, Bouches-du-Rhône, in order to determine the utility of these techniques for sites in this region. The survey revealed numerous strong anomalies, of which many ran parallel or perpendicular to one another. These are the sorts of responses one might expect from the remains of buried stone wall foundations; this interpretation is supported by the presence, on the west side of the site, of exposed walls on the same alignment as certain of the geophysical anomalies. Overall, the evidence suggests a network of buried buildings and road-ways across the oppidum. One particularly substantial building was identified towards the centre of the site, through the presence of a strong resistance anomaly of distinctly rectilinear form. It appears to represent the remains of a buried stone building with three rooms. In conclusion, the results provide strong encouragement for the further application of geophysical survey in this region

Temporära åtgärder är ett alltmer begynnande fenomen inom samhällsplanering. I den här studien undersöker jag betydelsen av temporära åtgärder som kommunal planeringsstrategi för gestaltning av offentliga rum. Studiens syfte studeras genom att undersöka vad temporära åtgärder medför till ett planeringsideal som genomsyras av permanent planering i det offentliga rummet, hur tid och platsidentitet uppfattas samt hur samhällsplanerare beaktar medborgares åsikter vid planeringen av temporära åtgärder. Med utgångspunkt i teorier som rätten till staden, nyliberalism och platsens själ och essens, undersöker jag temporära åtgärders påverkan på gestaltningen av offentliga rum. Metoden utgörs av semistrukturerade intervjuer med samhällsplanerare inom både offentlig och privat sektor. Studien har identifierat att samhällsplanerare har som ambition att nyttja metoden för att revitalisera offentliga rum genom god gestaltning, som planeringsstrategi riskerar dock temporära åtgärder att följa ett nyliberalt planeringsideal som prioriterar attraktivitet över mänskliga behov. Resultatet tyder på att metoden möjliggör för att långa planeringsprocesser kan frångås för att på ett snabbare och mer flexibelt sätt kunna möta förändrade behov. Temporära åtgärder har således en stor betydelse inom samhällsplaneringen och utgör ett komplement till den permanenta och långsiktiga planeringen.

My creative project explores design for transit advocacy; aimed at shifting a car-dependent society into one where transit helps meet climate change, energy, and land-use challenges. It incorporates my research into aspects of designing for transit, an understanding of urbanism in Richmond and New York, and an appreciation of planning.

Faisant confiance à leur intuition les urbanistes s’inscrivent souvent dans un flou théorique qui les rend susceptibles de succomber à l’idéologie dominante et aux modes du moment. La première partie de ce mémoire vise à démontrer que cette posture par rapport à la théorie entraine un manque de réflexivité qui constitue un obstacle majeur à l’exercice d’une pratique urbanistique véritablement professionnelle, éthique et respectueuse du territoire. En effet, selon Bourdieu, un corpus théorique autonome permettrait d’offrir à l’urbaniste un cadre de réflexivité lui permettant de prendre du recul sur le quotidien et d’échapper à l’influence indue de l’idéologie sur sa pratique. Ce mémoire vise à comprendre la configuration actuelle du champ des théories de l’urbanisme en Occident (compris selon la théorie des champs de Bourdieu) et à proposer un modèle synthèse spécifiquement destiné à servir d’outil de réflexivité à l’urbaniste. Pour y parvenir, il a été privilégié de faire une relecture herméneutique de modèles théoriques existants, mais considérés comme incomplets, des théories de l’urbanisme. Dans ce domaine, deux Écoles de pensée ont été définies (École française et École anglo-saxonne). Ensuite, une typologie emblématique de chaque École a été choisie pour être revue à la lumière de l’objectif fixé. Ainsi, les typologies de Françoise Choay (École française) et de Philip Allmendinger (École anglo-saxonne) ont été analysées et mises en commun au moyen de la construction d’une historiographie commune des théories de l’urbanisme. Finalement, un modèle théorique original (la typologie intégrée) a été formulé. Celui-ci définit quatre grands courants théoriques : le rationalisme instrumental, le rationalisme intersubjectif, le mouvement pragmatico-postmoderne et le mouvement patrimonial. Il apparaît alors que le rationalisme occupe une position hégémonique dans le champ des théories de l’urbanisme depuis sa fondation et qu’elle est assumée par le rationalisme intersubjectif depuis le milieu des années 1990. / Relying on their intuition, urbanists are often in a blurred theoric frame which make them more likely to go into the dominant ideology and the current main trends. The first part of this master thesis intend to illustrate that this attitude toward theory is leading to a lack of reflexivity which is an major obstacle to the exercice of a trully professional, ethical and respectful toward territory urbanistic practice. According to Pierre Bourdieu, an autonomous theoric corpus would give the urbanist a frame for reflexivity in order to take step back from his daily exercice of urban planning and to escape the concealed influence of ideology. This thesis intend to understand the actual outline of the field of urbanism theories (understood following the theory of fields of Bourdieu) in the western countries and to propose a synthetic theoric frame specifically dedicated to be use as a reflexivity tool by the urbanist. In order to achieve this goal, an hermeutical reading of the existing, but incomplete, urbanism theories models has been selected. Regarding this matter, two School of toughts has been outlined : the French and the Anglo-saxon Schools. After, a typology of urbanism theories representing each school has been selected to be re-examine. Thus, Françoise Choay’s (for the French School) and Philip Allemndinger’s (for the Anglo-saxon School) typologies has been analysed and put togheter by the construction of a common historiography of the urbanism theories. Finally, a brand new theoritical model (the integrated typology) has been proposed. It propounds that the field of urbanism theories has four great theoritical movements : the instrumental rationalism, the intersubjective rationalism, the pragmatic-postmodern movement and the heritage based movement. In conclusion, rationalism appears as the hegemonic trend in the field of urbanism theories since its foundation and that this dominant position is now overtake by the intersubjective rationalism movement since the mid-1990s.

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo a investigação da aplicação da metodologia Charrette Design utilizada para o desenvolvimento do projeto do empreendimento Pedra Branca a partir de sua segunda fase de implantação, onde foi concebida a região central. Pedra Branca está situada no município de Palhoça, Santa Catarina, e está em construção. Foram incorporados princípios do Novo Urbanismo (New Urbanism), envolveu no processo seus dirigentes, consultorias (inclusive internacionais), diferentes empresas de arquitetura e de engenharia, laboratórios acadêmicos da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina e partes interessadas (stakeholders), numa abordagem transdisciplinar. O entendimento da cultura organizacional e a aprendizagem de ferramentas de gestão fazem parte de um arcabouço de inovações necessárias para propiciar ambientes colaborativos na direção da implementação de um urbanismo mais sustentável e criativo. A pesquisa realizada possibilitou a compreensão da aplicabilidade da metodologia, sua incorporação à cultura da empresa, a abertura para incorporar novos conceitos, no todo e nas partes. Num âmbito ainda mais abrangente, concluiu-se que Pedra Branca tem se demonstrado na prática como uma \"organização que aprende\" na formulação de Senge (2009). O empreendimento foi reconhecido e premiado internacionalmente. / This research aimed to investigate the application of the methodology used Charrette Design for the development of the enterprise Pedra Branca project from its second phase of implementation, which was conceived the central region. Pedra Branca is situated in the municipality of Palhoça, Santa Catarina, and is under construction. Principles of New Urbanism were incorporated, its leaders involved in the process, consulting (including international), different architectural firms and engineering, academic laboratories, Federal University of Santa Catarina and interested parties (stakeholders), a transdisciplinary approach. The understanding of organizational culture and learning management tools are part of a framework of innovations needed to provide collaborative environments toward the implementation of a more sustainable and creative urban planning. The survey allowed us to understand the applicability of the methodology, its incorporation into the company culture, openness to incorporate new concepts in whole and in parts. In a yet broader context it is concluded that Pedra Branca has been shown in practice as a \"learning organization\" in the formulation of Senge (2009). The project was recognized and awarded internationally.

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo a investigação da aplicação da metodologia Charrette Design utilizada para o desenvolvimento do projeto do empreendimento Pedra Branca a partir de sua segunda fase de implantação, onde foi concebida a região central. Pedra Branca está situada no município de Palhoça, Santa Catarina, e está em construção. Foram incorporados princípios do Novo Urbanismo (New Urbanism), envolveu no processo seus dirigentes, consultorias (inclusive internacionais), diferentes empresas de arquitetura e de engenharia, laboratórios acadêmicos da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina e partes interessadas (stakeholders), numa abordagem transdisciplinar. O entendimento da cultura organizacional e a aprendizagem de ferramentas de gestão fazem parte de um arcabouço de inovações necessárias para propiciar ambientes colaborativos na direção da implementação de um urbanismo mais sustentável e criativo. A pesquisa realizada possibilitou a compreensão da aplicabilidade da metodologia, sua incorporação à cultura da empresa, a abertura para incorporar novos conceitos, no todo e nas partes. Num âmbito ainda mais abrangente, concluiu-se que Pedra Branca tem se demonstrado na prática como uma \"organização que aprende\" na formulação de Senge (2009). O empreendimento foi reconhecido e premiado internacionalmente. / This research aimed to investigate the application of the methodology used Charrette Design for the development of the enterprise Pedra Branca project from its second phase of implementation, which was conceived the central region. Pedra Branca is situated in the municipality of Palhoça, Santa Catarina, and is under construction. Principles of New Urbanism were incorporated, its leaders involved in the process, consulting (including international), different architectural firms and engineering, academic laboratories, Federal University of Santa Catarina and interested parties (stakeholders), a transdisciplinary approach. The understanding of organizational culture and learning management tools are part of a framework of innovations needed to provide collaborative environments toward the implementation of a more sustainable and creative urban planning. The survey allowed us to understand the applicability of the methodology, its incorporation into the company culture, openness to incorporate new concepts in whole and in parts. In a yet broader context it is concluded that Pedra Branca has been shown in practice as a \"learning organization\" in the formulation of Senge (2009). The project was recognized and awarded internationally.

This dissertation analyses how district heating systems in the Stockholm region have evolved and developed during the period 1978-2012. The thesis comprises four papers analyzing how district heating has been handled in municipal and regional planning. The examination explores how actors have worked together to create regional, interconnected district heating systems with economic, technological and environmental benefits. An investigation is undertaken on the effects of liberalization (and the subsequent commercialization of the district heating market) on the planning and cooperation of these systems. The impact on the present and future district heating market is also discussed. The dissertation shows that energy companies cooperated on a regional level to create interconnected regional systems. Through openness, the capacity to make high-level decisions and municipal legitimacy, the regional strategies could be implemented at the municipal level. This can be considered a form of regional planning from below that developed through the initiative of the municipalities. The regional energy planning authority Stoseb could therefore succeed where other regional planning authorities in the Stockholm region have previous failed, to gather and unite the municipalities into a regional force. This cooperation changed around the time of the liberalization of the energy market in 1996, which led to sales of several municipal energy companies and a subsequent concentration of ownership in the region. The organizational distance between energy companies and municipalities has increased and affected the communication between them. Regional cooperation could not be maintained and this has meant that opportunities and tools to implement energy strategies today are weaker than earlier. This is a case of ‘regional splintering’. The liberalization of the energy market thus had a major impact on the district heating sector. / Denna sammanläggningsavhandling analyserar hur fjärrvärmesystemen iStockholmsregionen vuxit och förändrats, mellan 1978 och 2012. Avhandlingen består av fyra artiklar som analyserar hur fjärrvärme hanterats i kommunal och regional planering, hur aktörer samarbetat för att skapa regionala, sammankopplade fjärrvärmesystem med ekonomiska, tekniska och miljömässiga vinster som följd, hur elavregleringen, och den påföljande kommersialiseringen av fjärrvärmemarknaden, påverkade planering och samverkan kring dessa system, samt fjärrvärmemarknadens nuläge och framtid. Avhandlingen visar att energibolagen samarbetat på regional nivå för att skapa sammanhängande regionala system, genom öppet samarbete och att man tack vare hög beslutskompetens kunnat implementera de regionala strategierna på kommunal nivå. Det var en form av regional planering underifrån, då initiativet kom från kommunerna och samarbetsorganet lyckades med vad regionala planorgan haft svårt att genomföra under flertalet decennier i Stockholmsregion, nämligen att samla och ena kommunerna kring strategier som implementerats. Detta samarbete förändrades vid tiden runt liberaliseringen av energimarknaden, som genomfördes 1996, vilket ledde till försäljning av flertalet kommunala energibolag och en efterföljande koncentration av ägandeskapet i regionen. Det organisatoriska avståndet mellan energibolag och kommun har därmed blivit längre och påverkat kommunikationen dem emellan. Det regionala samarbetet kunde därmed inte fortsätta som tidigare och detta gör att möjligheterna och verktyg att implementera regionala energistrategier idag är svaga. Detta var ett fall av ”regional splintering”. Liberaliseringen av energimarknaden hade således stor påverkan påfjärrvärmesektorn.