Several　researchers　proposed　innovative　techniques　for　the　improvement　of　the　dynamic　and　seismic　performances　of　rigid　block-like　elements.　These　techniques　were　mostly　based　on　passive　control　methods,　such　as　base　isolation　or　the　use　of　tuned　mass　dampers　and　dynamic　mass　absorbers.　Only　a　few　researchers　studied　active　control　methods　applied　to　the　dynamics　of　rigid　blocks.　This　paper　proposes　an　active　control　method　for　rigid　block-like　elements　based　on　the　Pole　Placement　Method　algorithm,　which　is　used　to　drive　a　mass　running　on　the　top　of　the　rigid　block-like　elements.　The　optimal　control　law　obtained　with　the　Pole　Placement　Method　is　obtained　starting　from　the　linearised　equation　of　motion.　The　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　control　method　is　investigated　comparing　the　behaviour　of　rigid　block-like　elements　with　and　without　active　control　under　harmonic　and　seismic　excitation.　The　results　are　summarised　in　overturning　spectra,　in　the　case　of　harmonic　excitation,　and　rocking　maps,　in　the　case　of　seismic　excitation.　Preliminary　analyses　show　that　the　control　law　has　good　robustness　with　respect　to　the　time-delays　and　a　unique　setting　of　the　control　coefficient　is　able　to　provide　good　performances　in　wide　ranges　of　the　geometrical　characteristics　of　the　rigid　block-like　element.　Finally,　results　show　the　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　active　control　method　for　both　harmonic　and　seismic　excitations.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd