The role of the detailed design in the public works

Abstract

The production of the detailed design in the public works has been updated several times, even recently through the adoption of the new Public Procurement Law. Two different approaches are still remaining: the centralization of the design activity in charge of the public contracting body or the externalization to private actors. The paper, beyond an investigation of the potentialities and criticalities of these approaches, outlines new scenarios that are progressively taking place. In particular, starting from the emblematic case of the student housing buildings launched in Italy with the law 338/2000, new possible prospects, new contents and models of production of the detailed design are identified.