VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.

103-0569-00L 3 Credits MSC D-BAUG , D-ARCH
You're viewing possible stale or outdated data. Please check the latest semester for more up-to-date information.

European Aspects of Spatial Development

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Ana Peric Momcilovic
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:48:44

Abstract

Following the insight into historical perspective and contemporary models of governance and planning, the course focuses on the international dimension of spatial planning in Europe. This includes a discussion of how European spatial policy is made and by whom, how planners can participate in such process and how they can address transnational challenges of spatial development cooperatively.

Objective

Keeping the general aim of exploring the European dimension of spatial planning in mind, the specific course learning objectives are as follows: - to interpret the history of spatial planning at the transnational scale - to understand and explain the content of the European spatial policy agenda - to describe and analyse the role of territorial cooperation in making European spatial development patterns and planning procedures - to discuss the changing role of planners and evaluate the ways of their engagement in European spatial policy-making

Content

- European spatial policy agenda: introduction and basic directives - governance models - planning models; collaborative planning model (main concepts & critics) - post-positivist approach to spatial planning - transnational spatial planning in Europe; questioning the European spatial planning; spatial development trends in Europe - EU as a political system: EU institutions & non-EU actors - planning families in Europe; the European spatial planning agenda - spatial planning strategies and programmes on territorial cooperation - the notion of planning culture and planning system; planning cultures in Europe - basic characteristics of planning systems in Europe - the relevance of European transnational cooperation for spatial planning - European transnational initiatives

Resources

Lecture Notes

The documents for the lecture will be provided at the moodle.

Literature

Obligatory literature: - Dühr, S., Colomb, C. & Nadin, V. (2010). European Spatial Planning and Territorial Cooperation. London: Routledge. Recommended literature: Governance models: - Martens, K. (2007). Actors in a Fuzzy Governance Environment. In G. de Roo & G. Porter (Eds.), Fuzzy Planning: The Role of Actors in a Fuzzy Governance Environment (pp. 43-65). Abingdon, Oxon, GBR: Ashgate Publishing Group. Planning models: - Davoudi, S. & Strange, I. (2009). Conceptions of Space and Place in Strategic Spatial Planning. Abingdon, Oxon, GBR: Routledge. - Allmendinger, P. (2002). The Post-Positivist Landscape of Planning Theory. In P. Allmendinger & M. Tewdwr-Jones (Eds.), Planning Futures: New Directions for Planning Theory (pp. 3-17). London: Routledge. - Healey, P. (1997). Collaborative Planning - Shaping places in fragmented societies. London: MacMillan Press. EU as a political context: - Williams, R. H. (1996). European Union Spatial Policy and Planning. London: Sage. Territorial cooperation in Europe: - Dühr, S., Stead, D. & Zonneveld, W. (2007). The Europeanization of spatial planning through territorial cooperation. Planning Practice & Research, 22(3), 291-307. - Dühr, S. & Nadin, V. (2007). Europeanization through transnational territorial cooperation? The case of INTERREG IIIB North-West Europe. Planning Practice and Research, 22(3), 373-394. - Faludi, A. (Ed.) (2002). European Spatial Planning. Cambridge, Mass.: Lincoln institute of land policy. - Faludi, A. (2010). Cohesion, Coherence, Cooperation: European Spatial Planning Coming of Age? London: Routledge. - Faludi, A. (2014). EUropeanisation or Europeanisation of spatial planning? Planning Theory & Practice, 15(2), 155-169. - Kunzmann, K. R. (2006). The Europeanisation of spatial planning. In N. Adams, J. Alden & N. Harris (Eds.), Regional Development and Spatial Planning in an Enlarged European Union. Aldershot: Ashgate. Planning families and cultures: - Newman, P. & Thornley, A. (1996). Urban Plannning in Europe: international competition, national systems and planning projects. London: Routledge. - Knieling, J. & Othengrafen, F. (Eds.). (2009). Planning Cultures in Europe: Decoding Cultural Phenomena in Urban and Regional Planning. Aldershot: Ashgate. - Stead, D., de Vries, J. & Tasan-Kok, T. (2015). Planning Cultures and Histories: Influences on the Evolution of Planning Systems and Spatial Development Patterns. European Planning Studies, 23(11), 2127-2132. - Scholl, B. (Eds.) (2012). Spaces and Places of National Importance. Zurich: ETH vdf Hochschulverlag. Planning systems in Europe: - Nadin, V. & Stead, D. (2008). European Spatial Planning Systems, Social Models and Learning. disP - The Planning Review, 44(172), 35-47. - Commission of the European Communities. (1997). The EU compendium of spatial planning systems and policies. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
written 90 minutes
Aids
None
The course semester activities include a compulsory continuous performance assessment task need not be passed on its own; it is awarded a grade which counts proportionally towards the total course unit grade (20%). The task is in a form of a presentation (i.e. independent study on topics discussed during lectures). The presentation is scheduled for the midst of semester.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise European Aspects of Spatial Development
Online lecture: This lecture will primarily take place online. Reserved rooms will remain available for students to follow the seminar from there.
  • Tue 15:45-17:30 (HIL D 53)
2 h weekly

Offered In

  • Geomatics Master
  • Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems Master
  • Architecture Master
    • Focus Work (Realization in the respective fields of the institutes. Definition of topics by professors, in consultation with the students. The content may also refer to an elective course. The performance assessment comprises either a purely written examination followed by an oral examination or a creative, manual or drawing work, including a description, followed by an oral examination. At least one focus work is a written work followed by an oral exam. The written work fulfills the criteria of a scientific paper in a formal sense. In addition to the design, crafting or drawing part, it also includes a written description of the question, methodology and knowledge gained. A creative, crafting or graphic focus work is shown in a public exhibition, a purely written focus work is accessible to the public.)
      • Field of Landscape Architecture and Urban Studies (Definition of topics by professors, in consultation with the students (student's proposal / content of an elective course). Performance assessment: Purely written examination followed by an oral examination OR a creative, manual or drawing work, including a description, followed by an oral examination. At least one focus work is a written work followed by an oral exam. The written work fulfills the criteria of a scientific paper in a formal sense. In addition to the design, crafting or drawing part, it also includes a written description of the question, methodology and possibly gained knowledge. A creative, crafting or graphic focus work is shown in a public exhibition, a purely written focus work is accessible to the public. Information on exams and grades: Art. 29 of the MSc D-ARCH regulations.)
  • Integrated Building Systems Master