Interdisciplinarity and systemic view
We connect different disciplines – from civil engineering to economics, from law to environmental psychology – to read urban complexity without reducing it to a single viewpoint.
Method · PolisMaking · Value Management
An approach that connects places, people and value
Master PolisMaker brings together Value Management, context analysis, Genius Loci and co-design with territories. A method born from research and implemented through workshops and real-life projects.
More than a curriculum: a way of looking at and transforming places
Master PolisMaker stems from the idea that urban transformations cannot be tackled with a siloed perspective. Every decision on space – a street, a neighbourhood, a territory – has economic, environmental, social, cultural and symbolic effects. Our approach therefore integrates technical and human-centered skills, data and perceptions, analysis and vision.
The backbone is Value Management, understood as the ability to read stakeholders’ needs, define clear objectives, assess alternatives and measure the impact of decisions over time. This is combined with PolisMaking: an approach that connects Genius Loci and quality of living with policies, design and decision processes, in continuous dialogue with communities and institutions.
Four pillars of the approach
Value and measurable sustainability
We adopt Value Management to clarify needs, goals, expected performances and life-cycle costs. Value is not abstract: it is the outcome of transparent decisions that can be measured over time.
Centrality of people and communities
Places and policies make sense only if they improve quality of living. We work on stakeholder engagement, listening to contexts and building shared scenarios.
Learning through workshops and real projects
The method is tested on real cases: territorial labs, applied exercises, international workshops where students work on actual challenges together with faculty, institutions and partners.
The PolisMaking process
An iterative cycle combining analysis, co-design and value assessment.
Step 1
Understanding the context
We collect data, stories, perceptions and regulatory constraints. We study Genius Loci, socio-economic dynamics and institutional scenarios to identify potentials and criticalities.
Step 2
Listening to needs and stakeholders
We identify stakeholders, expectations and conflicts. Value emerges from the comparison among different viewpoints, which become material for design.
Step 3
Defining objectives and value criteria
We structure strategic, functional, environmental and social objectives, and translate them into requirements and evaluation criteria, in line with Value Management.
Step 4
Generating alternatives and scenarios
We develop policy and design scenarios, exploring multiple solutions. Comparison is not only economic: it concerns urban quality, environmental impacts, social inclusion and feasibility.
Step 5
Assessing, deciding, monitoring
We use appraisal tools, multi-criteria analysis and value assessment methods to support decisions and define actionable roadmaps with indicators and impact metrics.
Value Management and the role of the Value Manager
The Master embeds the principles and practices of Value Management in its didactic framework, training professionals capable of managing complex processes and strategic decisions in line with national and international standards.
A structured approach
Value Management guides the whole decision cycle: from need definition to design, from alternative selection to impact review.
Focus on needs and stakeholders
Value is not just economic efficiency: it is the ability to respond to the real needs of users, communities, institutions and private partners.
Standards and professional responsibility
The program dialogues with the profile of the Value Manager and relevant standards, emphasising ethics, transparency and traceability of decisions.
From theory to real contexts: workshops and field labs
The PolisMaker approach takes shape in applied labs: urban regeneration, quality of living, green transition, inner areas, international cooperation. Workshops are where method, tools and sensitivity meet reality.
- Labs in different urban and territorial contexts, in Italy and abroad.
- Co-design with local authorities, ministries, agencies, communities and private actors.
- Analysis of Genius Loci, ongoing transformations and future scenarios.
- Field visits, interviews and public presentations as part of the learning process.
Didactics that reflects the approach
The structure of modules, the format of classes and the organisation of activities reflect the PolisMaker approach: essential theory, many cases, strong integration between disciplines and continuous reference to real contexts.
- Integrated modules connecting technical and human-centered skills.
- Lectures, case studies, exercises, decision simulations and project work.
- Dedicated space to Value Management, appraisal, evaluation and impact analysis methods.
- Use of digital tools for maps, data, scenarios and multi-criteria evaluation.
- Tutoring and support in building project work linked to real cases.
Methodology · Approach
Would you like to explore our way of working?
You can explore the teaching calendar, see how workshops are structured and talk with the coordination team to understand how the PolisMaker approach can support your professional path.