The Master Plan is the basic instrument for defining a municipality's development model. It establishes guidelines and strategies for executing plans, programs, and projects, seeking to emphasize public participation as well as economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Yet, its influence on the city goes far beyond what is commonly imagined: it ultimately dictates the volume and form of every new building.
In cities, the demand for housing is growing steadily, especially in well-established urban areas. However, with master plan restrictions on land plots, the market struggles to meet this demand, leading to rising land prices. In an effort to dilute land costs as much as possible, developers almost always choose to maximize the allowable building capacity. It is precisely at this point that the Master Plan virtually assumes the role of the architect, "designing" the development through its array of regulations.
