its unequivocal tendency to compose homogeneous fabrics , through which it could be reconnected to the urban organism . Apart from the theme of an experimentation greatly connected to the urban developing processes , there is , on the other hand , another issue in this context that affects more and more the planning of modern university centres and that , since about a decade , has led some universities to employ their theories and technologies to transform their venues into green campuses , through which to embody the idea of “ green / sustainable university ” [ 2 ]: prototypes on urban scale of the various experiments on the principles of energetic-environmental sustainability . The design theorem , in such cases , is basically focused on the strategic integration between territory , local resources and university settlement , as well as on efficient energy management of buildings .
Table 1 : Actions to support sustainable campus planning , design and development . ( Clayton 2013:41 )
Category
Action
Campus planning Campus-specific sustainability objectives included in all campus planning instruments ( i . e . considering climate and weather patterns , topography , geology / soils , hydrology , urban design context ).
Space planning at campus , precinct and building scale to optimise flexibility , adaptability , diversity and multifunctionality of spaces .
Investigation of non-building solutions to accommodate university growth .
Physical accessibility of the campus to the external community , different age groups and people with a disability .
Campus building design Design to the appropriate green building rating system as the minimum starting point .
Each new building / major refurbishment to incorporate at least one innovative sustainability feature beyond the requirements of the green building rating system .
These theoretical aspects provide the basis to the experiments conducted on Taranto ’ s context and the project of implementing its University Center as indicated by the Polytechnic of Bari over the next years . Starting from these physical and theoretical models it is now possible to deepen some non-exhausting interventions that allow us to comprehend the modality of interpretation of some of these actions as actual virtuous processes .
Study Cases . 1-The University of Bristol _ Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects LLP , 2006
Over the last 20 years the University of Bristol has recorded an increment in the number of students from 8,000 to 12,000 , as well as a growing demand for research facilities . In order to address these issues the University required 38,000 sqm of new academic spaces , but great part of the existing building heritage was not able to provide room for classes and modern research . Moreover the campus was saturated . The only possible area of development was the historical-archaeological that houses the Royal Fort Gardens , on which great of the master plan was focused . The latter has taken time to enhance the historical features and the natural landscapes present in the area and create :
• a better pedestrian access to the campus , providing a new cycling path that opens the boundaries of the campus towards the town ;
• better relationships between the University and the town , by means of the planning of a wide
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