TRAVELLING IMAGES: METROPOLITAN RENAISSANCE

Focus of the contribution is the approach to strategic spatial planning occurred in the Italian metropolitan city of Florence. During the spatial planning process, finalised to connect places with strategic development directions, many problems are emerged while defining, selecting and making sense of the complex reality of the metropolitan city and its positioning into the global context. In such a complex framework, the making of the strategic metropolitan plan (PSM) has been conducted as a creative regional design practice for framing the urban region and envisioning its possible future development. By using spatial representations and shared visions, the debate has raised on physical changes, sharing responsibilities and resources. In the implementation phase, this process has conveyed to conceive a multi-level and trans-scalar approach to local projects, conceived as part of the integrated visions of the PSM. Starting from this reflection, the contribution discusses the role of travelling framing ideas, i.e. the use of images, metaphor and narratives, and opens to further research questions concerning the performance of regional design in leading to lasting effect over times and changing actor’s preferences.