The role of the architect – city planner in the design of future urban spaces

Our cities are the richest concerning services and resources availability, but very often they are lacking as far as urban quality. The role of the architect-city planner has played an important influence on the way of life and the urban spaces must be shaped according to who will live there. For many years architects and city-planners have worked hard to plan buildings and cities as if they were enemies ones against others with the aim to sign stunning and brilliant projects, reaching the title of archistar totally forgetting that both architecture and city planning have a specifically social role. After the end of Modernist approach, aimed at guiding the urban development process from the top, there is now the need to face the territorial problems of the citizen with a method of integrated participation to guarantee an appropriate sustainable development with the balance of three factors: social, economical and enviromental. Nowadays the main role of the city- planners and of the architect too, is to help the citizens to “reconquer the cities” in a clever and eco-friendly way.