Designing in Disorder–Design Disorder. Reorganizing Urban Fragility

Spatial planning disorder is often seen negatively, resulting from poor management or a lack of organization and programming. The Urbanpromo 2024 conference, organized by INU and Urbit, offered a critical perspective on the rigidity of traditional urban planning, arguing that the notion of disorder is essential for cities’ social, cultural, aesthetic, and economic dynamics, encouraging adaptability and interaction. Formal urban planning tools alone are often insufficient, especially in times of uncertainty. Therefore, integrating informal regulatory approaches (soft policies) and new forms of influence (soft power) has become increasingly relevant in Europe. These include design competitions, research-driven projects, temporary uses of public spaces, and new institutional roles like the Bouwmeester in Belgium and the Netherlands. These flexible mechanisms complement formal planning, allowing for more adaptive urban development. A rigid regulatory framework in Italy often hinders decision-making and urban transformation. However, there is growing awareness of the need for more adaptable planning models to foster innovation and improve service and infrastructure quality. The Urbanpromo 2024 International Conference, organized in Florence on 8 November, explored these experimental practices. Through four thematic sessions—Approaches, Mechanisms, Tools, and Case Studies—the event examined how flexible urban planning models could modernize European spatial management.