Uncertainty and Complexity. The Role of the General Plan in Urban Regeneration Processes

The heightened level of uncertainty that pervades contemporary society offers a unique opportunity to innovate the discipline of urban planning and spatial design. The increasing demand for “flexibility” in urban planning regulations, coupled with the recognition that an open city fosters spontaneous urban regeneration, necessitates a novel approach to planning. In this context, the primary focus is on the administration of complexity, which can be approached as a resource, including through the utilization of synergies with disorder. The evolution of urban planning must entail a shift from a logic of static, predetermined forms to a dynamic vision, with an emphasis on development strategies rather than rigidly defined forms. However, this disciplinary innovation must not neglect the design of space and territorial coherence. The general plan is no longer merely a tool for “zoning”; it has become a means of integrating different disciplines and responding to new social needs while simultaneously maintaining the defense of collective interests. This contribution examines the methodological and procedural challenges inherent in defining urban regeneration plans and projects in contexts characterized by uncertainty. In particular, it considers the role of digital and adaptive planning tools, which facilitate the development of “what if” scenarios and forecasting strategies. Urban regeneration, therefore, represents a paradigm for a new approach to planning that privileges project coherence over conformity, thereby moving towards spatial visions of perspective.