Raffaele Paloscia, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Florence (UoF) expressed his university’s keenness in collaborating with the School of Planning and Architecture in the fields of design, planning and architecture and sending students regularly for taking up joint student exercises and faculty exchange programmes.

Addressing a seminar on ‘village transformation in the peri-urban setting of Vijayawada metropolitan area’ at SPA at Nidamanuru near here on Monday, Mr. Paloscia said the UoF was working with SPA in developing new design, conservation practices and planning as being practiced in Italy and looked forward to greater interaction between faculty and students of both the institutions.

Italian students Sylvia and Roberta gave a presentation on the transformation of Nidamanuru village, the way it was dependent on Vijayawada and how land use changes were taking place.

Anna Krammer from University of Cologne spoke about the evolving peri-urban environment of Kondapalli along with Michelle and Archana, master’s degree students in urban and regional planning. They also pointed out the adverse impact of ‘invasion of the city’ and the thermal power plant on livelihoods of makers of the famous Kondapalli toys and need to conserve the dying art.

SPA Director N. Sridharan outlined the exchange programmes between various universities abroad and how they were enriching the knowledge of his students. He also informed about the study of the traditional hand block printing at Machilipatnam and Pedana by 30 German students with the support of their counterparts in SPA.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Vijayawada – November 17th, 2014