bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Nature to Architecture for Low Tech Solutions: Biomimetic Principles for Climate-Adaptive Building Envelope
Authors: Sommese Francesco , Ausiello Gigliola
Published: June 2023

Building envelopes represent the interface between indoor and outdoor environmental factors. In recent years, attention to climate adaptive building envelopes has increased. However, some types of adaptive envelopes don’t always offer low-tech solutions, but require energy for their activation and high operating and maintenance costs. Nature has always proposed a large database of adaptation strategies that are often complex, multi-functional, and responsive. Transferring the functional principles of natural organisms and their associated adaptive modalities to technologies is the challenge of the biomimetic discipline (from Greek bios, life, and mimesis, imitation) applied to the field of architecture. In this article, various examples of biomimetic architecture that illustrate the relationships between biology, architecture, and technology, were considered. Various analyses of the operating principles of natural organisms are carried out, particularly with regard to self-adapting materials, in order to transfer them to the building envelope, and to propose technological solutions capable of passively adapting to external climatic conditions. Among all natural organisms, plants are prefereble to animals because, like buildings, they remain stationary in a specific location. Despite this, plants have developed different adaptation mechanisms to survive in certain environments. Buildings with biomimetic adaptive envelopes, characterized by passive and low-tech solutions inspired by plants, help limit energy consumption, and improve not only the indoor microclimate but also the outdoor environment. In line with the ecological transition, this work highlights the importance of biomimetic as a strategy to orient the new paradigms of built space design towards innovative and sustainable models of low-tech solutions.
The Digital Revolution and the Art of Co-creation
Authors: Talamo Maurizio
Published: June 2023

The digital transformation process is creating a system of new digital technologies that will give rise to an autonomous ecosystem capable of predicting and determining what will happen in the physical world. The digital twin seen as a moment of creation of a self-named digital model (digital alter ego) and guided in its design by an artificial intelligence can be a source of concern, questioning the central role of the person and of his intelligence in the creative process. The most important problems are: Artificial intelligence capacity to extend its capabilities in a unpredictable way and the inability to understand how artificial intelligence builds its solutions. After hinting at the roots of this problems, we will introduce co-creation as a new way of conceiving the collaboration between the human being and artificial intelligence. Co-creation requires to solve the problems outlined above and this could perhaps define new frontiers of creativity.
Life Cycle Assessment at the Early Stage of Building Design
Authors: Dalla Valle Anna
Published: June 2023

In view of the urgent need to construct informed and advanced vision of the built environment in terms of environmental impacts, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is even more emerging as the most recognized supporting tool for Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) practices. This is proved by Level(s), a voluntary framework established in Europe that is fully life cycle-based, looking buildings beyond energy performance to the whole life cycle, while fostering the implementation of circular economy strategies. To face buildings complexity, it recommends applying life cycle approach with an increasing level of detail and accuracy, shifting from the assessment of carbon emissions to complete cradle to grave LCA. In this context, many calls for competitions at the reach of environmentally sustainability include Level(s) measures as reference frame to deal with. The paper provides insights of building LCA application performed during the preliminary design phases, since crucial for the decision-making process especially if operating into competition aimed at minimizing environmental impacts. In particular, a sample of building projects developed to address an international architecture competition specifically committed to decarbonization issues in compliance with Level(s) is discussed. Starting from a concrete in situ scenario, the attention is on integrating dry assembled solutions composed of environmental-friendly materials. Results show range of carbon footprint of low-carbon buildings in relation to building shape and volume, outlining building parts that generally contribute to highest release of CO2 and providing effective technological solutions. The aim is to support AEC practitioners in the design and implementation of buildings embracing a life cycle approach starting from the early design process.
Remanufacturing Towards Circularity in the Construction Sector: The Role of Digital Technologies
Authors: Atta Nazly
Published: June 2023

Among the different circular strategies, remanufacturing proves to be particularly interesting since it aims to maintain the value of building components overtime extending their lifespan by guaranteeing multiple consequent cycles of use, overcoming in this way the most common down-cycling logics. However, unlike other industrial fields which already benefit from remanufacturing, the construction sector delays to adopt this practice due to barriers of different nature, namely organizational, information, technical, regulatory and economic. Among these barriers, the first two can now be addressed more effectively thanks to the support of Information and Communication Technologies. The latter offer the possibility of real-time monitoring, remote communication and scenario modeling, opening up to innovative solutions for remanufacturing. Hence, the paper aims to investigate how the application of ICTs can support the cognitive and organizational processes related to remanufacturing of building components. In particular, the paper explores the application of sensing technologies, digital twins and information platforms and assess their potential to support the implementation of circular service-based remanufacturing models in the construction sector.
Integrated Design Approach to Build a Safe and Sustainable Dual Intended Use Center in Praslin Island, Seychelles
Authors: Gattulli Vincenzo , Palumbo Elisabetta , Vannini Carlo
Published: June 2023

A flexible multi-purpose center for a dual intended use—hospitality and observation and research related to climate change—has been designed in the fragile environment of Praslin Island, Seychelles. The technical solutions adopted for a low environmental impact LCA based in the designed center during the life cycle will be illustrated: starting from the local supply raw materials, the self-disassembling construction system, the described process is compatible with the site use that the owners have foreseen. Specific logistic systems have been chosen both to the transportation of the material on the site, and to the integrated structural and architectural solutions. In addition, a reconstruction of the natural characteristics of the building site has been developed both by google-earth observation and with a survey directly on the site through processing acquired images. The multi-disciplinary perspective through which the project has been conceived shows beneficial effects in terms of reduced impact on the original and resilient natural environment. Future developments of the work will be devoted to the optimization of this multi-disciplinary approach.
Climate Change: New Ways to Inhabit the Earth
Authors: Cangelli Eliana
Published: June 2023

The text begins by proposing a critical reading of the climate crisis, aimed at pointing out the need for a collective consciousness allowing solutions to be found that are unbound by having to maintain the current economic model. After a brief history of the environmental issue identifying the commitment of the technology of architecture in this topic, a research framework linked to the environmental and technological design of the built environment is proposed. The paper closes with considerations on research prospects for the transformation of cities, of use for pursuing the reduction of climate change, as emerged at the conference.
The Climate Report Informing the Response to Climate Change in Urban Development
Authors: Pirani Anna
Published: June 2023

The IPCC Climate Report was published in three volumes in August 2021, and February and April 2022. An overview of the key findings, sourced from these reports that are relevant for the resilient development of urban areas, is summarized in this paper. It is the authoritative, comprehensive assessment of the climate change, including the physical aspects, impacts and adaptation, and mitigation. Human-caused climate change has affected global and regional climate, including extremes and drivers of impacts with consequences for human and natural systems. Cities, urban areas, and settlements, for example in Europe, are particularly exposed to future risks. At the same time, there are multiple opportunities to address climate change both through adaptation and mitigation action with urban development. There are multiple synergies and co-benefits the responses to climate change and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Urban Riverfront Greenway: A Linear Attractor for Sustainable Urban Development
Authors: Mastrolonardo Luciana
Published: June 2023

The strategy for sustainable mobility of December 2020 by the European Commission defines the alignment of the transport sector with the European Green Deal, for a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions related to transport by 2050. This involves linear infrastructure of sustainable mobility in our cities. The research has a focus on strategies to increase sustainable travel, with a view to improving the quality of public space and reducing the weight of heavy transport. A coordinated planning directs actions toward mitigation tools and sharing of public spaces through necessarily systemic interventions, which identify a common scenario, involving increased use of city greenways connected with urban node. Working on the level of cycling in Pescara case study (IT) means to act to a systemic approach involving different kind of action on infrastructure and on active participation of inhabitants. Among all a focus was developed on the urban greenway on the riverfront, crossing stretches of great environmental and landscape quality with its seven kilometers, which potentially could connect peripherals part of the cities, currently in a state of semi-abandonment. The Biciplan guidelines, meeting the objective by a project involving youth activism, could help achieve sustainability objectives and improve environmental performance, starting from its integrated enhancement, developing the axis in an urban sense, reconnecting the city and improving the peripheral mobility of the city. The consequence of coordinated planning and directing actions toward mitigation tools are followed in the reduction of emissions at the local level, contributing to proximity of travel.
The Buildings Reuse for a Music District Aimed at a Sustainable Urban Development
Authors: Radogna Donatella
Published: June 2023

Reusing buildings must be ‘convenient’ for the environment and for people, therefore it must re-establish a balance between places and communities which, interacting, determine a continuous transformation of cities. The reuse of buildings is a sustainable development process that implies phases of adaptation and qualitative growth to create safe, healthy, useful, attractive and beautiful places. The objective of the guidelines for the music district of Pescara (research for the conservatory) is to establish activities linked to music, culture and socialization, for the expansion of the ‘Luisa D'Annunzio’ Conservatory (through the reuse of the former Muzii middle school owned by the municipality) and provides the city with inclusive and beautiful places for all. The needs of different users (students of the conservatory and citizens) and those expressed by the client (music teachers and musicians) are considered to ensure the sustainability of the initiative through the integration of activities fit for restoring economic and social ‘gain’, according to an ecological approach. In providing the addresses for the required spaces, it was important to hypothesize additional functions and spaces to reborn the city with inclusion and beauty. The reuse of the former middle school was deemed ‘convenient’ (just as music is effective in restoring social inclusion and cultural development) thanks to the resilience capacities found. The proximity between the former school and the conservatory does not require substantial connection works and the proximity to the urban parks, the sea and the most ‘lively’ area of the urban center demonstrates an aptitude of the place for social reception thanks also to pedestrian and cycle paths. The spaces of the former classrooms are suitable for music teaching and recording studios as other existing spaces are for a music hub and other functions for the conservatory and the city, with a view to sustainable urban development.
Environmental Design for a Sustainable District and Civic Hub
Authors: Mussinelli Elena , Tartaglia Andrea , Castaldo Giovanni
Published: June 2023

The paper presents the results of a design-based research focused on a specific context in the city of Milan (Municipality 4), where a holistic approach to a fruitive and environmental regeneration was experimented. The proposed design-based approach integrates the functional and fruitive reactivation of public space with analysis, simulations and assessments on the possible application of nature-based solutions (NBS) to increase urban resilience, comfort and public space usability. In addition to increasing the environmental benefits (ecosystem services) at the district scale, the project aims to strengthen the ecological connections at the wide area, stressing the necessity of a systemic approach in the GBI’s development. The paper illustrates both the methodological and framing aspects of the experimentation and the project results, verified through a consolidated methodology for the assessment of the expected environmental benefits. The research project contributes in developing new approaches to the deep renovation of public space in urban and peri-urban contexts, that are a priority in the current Italian scenario.
Earth Observation Technologies for Mitigating Urban Climate Changes
Authors: Cinquepalmi Federico , Piras Giuseppe
Published: June 2023

Since 2010 United Nations declared that for the first time in history up to 50% of mankind is living in urban areas, implying that challenges connected with global changes need to be evaluated primarily within urban systems, using the most advanced available technologies. Earth observation is nowadays the most promising field of research assisting urban planners, city managers, and building designers in their work of improving urban resilience to cope with climate change effects, and the long-term changes connected with extreme climatic events. Even though the deep understanding of the functioning of urban systems is a key factor for improving the quality of life at all levels, urban development is still poorly monitored globally, and reliable and comparable satellite urban data across countries is still limited, slowing down international comparative research. The Copernicus UE programme, replacing the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme, recognizes the strategic importance of Earth observation for emergency management. Copernicus programme provides global, continuous, autonomous, high quality, wide-area Earth and Atmosphere observation. Copernicus links Space observations to ground-based and atmospheric data collection and processing, providing operational services in the fields of environment, ground infrastructures, civil protection, and security, supporting the implementation of a large number of sectorial and transversal public policies. Of the six thematic macro-areas of the present programme observation and ground monitoring of the European urban systems lies in the first thematic area of the land monitoring service. The enormous and continuous data generation from the Copernicus programme is allowing the construction of an accurate and up-to-date database to the state of health of our cities and surrounding environments, providing research materials simply inconceivable only a few decades ago.
Metropolitan Farms: Long Term Agri-Food Systems for Sustainable Urban Landscapes
Authors: Paganin Giancarlo , Orsini Filippo , Migliore Marco , Venis Konstantinos , Poli Matteo
Published: June 2023

In the past decade, urban agriculture (UA) has attracted significant attention from urban planners and city managers as a sustainable, nature-based, and smart solution that may generate positive impacts for resilience, self-reliance, and social, economic, and environmental sustainability of cities. UA appears as an effective means to address climate change while also fostering urban transitions to sustainability in many ways, such as creating new commons, amenities, ecosystem services, reinventing urbanity, and encouraging community building by growing local food. Since UA is a strategy to support the re-configuration of more sustainable and resilient cities, it can be considered a seedbed for innovation. Based on these premises, the STRutture Agricole MEtropolitane (STRAME) research project aims at defining an innovative interpretation of the urban farming. The research proposes a vision of the UA based on an intermediate scale compared to the more investigated and developed mega-scale of large vertical farming and the microscale of urban gardens. Conceived as an adaptive infrastructure, STRAME—a system based on modular Vertical Farming units—is organized to be translated and applied in different urban and metropolitan scenarios. The “terrain vague” of metropolises (intended as residual urban spaces) and climate change are two challenges—the first of a physical-spatial type and the second environmental-social—in which STRAME wants to build a capillary system of highly efficient agricultural production. STRAME, starting from deep analysis of the background of UA, aims at defining a physical infrastructure integrated with a digital infrastructure (IoT), able of responding to the challenges posed by the agro-industrial chain in densely populated urban contexts. Its core is a system of modular elements to be used for the construction and commissioning of a medium-sized network of inter-connected vertical farming applicable in residual voids and in the open spaces in large residential districts.
Resilient Design for Outdoor Sports Infrastructure
Authors: Battaglia Silvia , Cognigni Marta , Vettori Maria Pilar
Published: June 2023

Cities, and with them the criticalities and opportunities that characterize urban contexts, are one of the main challenges in the transition toward environmental and social sustainability today. Within the contemporary debate dominated by reflections on the effects of climate change, the culture of design is increasingly oriented to measure itself against the concept of resilience: the limitation of land consumption, together with the technological, functional and energetic reorganization of areas and buildings, is the path taken by design to make the built environment adaptable to the changes taking place, so as to promote development, equity and social inclusion. Public space, defined as a system of open urban spaces, is assuming an increasingly important role in urban and environmental regeneration processes. At the same time, the topic of sport and the public infrastructure of cities for practicing physical activity is an increasingly important factor for urban and social quality, requiring strategies capable of redefining places and the way they are used in line with objectives of environmental quality and collective well-being. The picture that emerges from studies and research on the European and Italian panorama of sport infrastructures highlights interesting and innovative trends that show, also in this sector, an increasing focus on the themes of urban, architectural and social resilience. On the basis of this premise, the contribution aims to analyze the recent evolution of the design of public space in relation to sports practices as an area where resilience policies are applied.
A Green Technological Rehabilitation of the Built Environment. From Public Residential Estates to Eco-Districts
Authors: Errante Lidia
Published: June 2023

The environmental quality of the modern city is a central issue in the Italian and international design debate. The pandemic and the perspective of a post-pandemic phase have accelerated the inevitable transformation of the living spaces—indoor and outdoor, urban and domestic—bringing out renewed awareness and new quality requirements. The need to achieve results to limit energy consumption, reduce polluting emissions, promote less land consumption, and conditions of urban resilience is becoming gradually urgent, according to European and national strategic, political and regulatory indications. Space quality requirements, which correspond to different conditions of quality of living, are generally identified in the physical and social accessibility of places and dwellings, in the production and availability of energy from renewable sources, in the availability of green public spaces, and in the opportunity to carry out leisure and sports activities. The paper investigates the transformation of public residential neighbourhoods, highlighting urban and technological design opportunities within the paradigm of eco-district and biophilic urbanism. Two case studies within the INA CASA Plan in Reggio Calabria—Sbarre Inferiori and San Brunello—will be the object of analysis and meta-design transformation scenarios to test with green quality requirements. The scenarios aim to explore microclimatic improvements for the districts, the redefinition of outdoor spaces, the implementations of technologies for clean energy production, and the containment of resources consumption. The object of the contribution goes towards principles of health and well-being of the communities, recognising the urban risk factors implicated in the global pandemic and the need to restore the existing building stock and residential estates. Eventually, the paper suggests a framework of actions, green technologies, and design options to manage those environmental concerns.
Fog Water Harvesting Through Smart Façade for a Climate Resilient Built Environment
Authors: Di Bitonto Maria Giovanna , Kutlu Alara , Zanelli Alessandra
Published: June 2023

Water emergency is one of the terrible effects of climate change; it is defined as the Blue gold of twenty-first century. In this scenario, fog stands as a potential alternative water resource. Many territories are affected by fog phenomenon; here fog collectors have been developed to extract water from humid mass of air. The aim of this paper is to explore the application of this technology in building sector. The Large Fog Collector is the device commonly used for these projects; it is a textile structure, composed of a mesh, two poles and cables. The exploitation of conventional water resources implies a massive distribution system with significant energy consumption and costs. Otherwise, fog harvesting is a passive system; it relieves the stress upon freshwater resources. Nowadays, fog collectors are low tech devices, and fog harvesting projects are commonly developed in arid areas for agricultural and reforestation purposes. Nevertheless, taking advantage of the vertical development of the device, this textile structure shall be integrated in façade, to promote resilient constructions and make buildings water self-sufficient. The paper explores the design criteria for the development of a novel concept of smart water collecting façade. It can promote also shading effect, reducing the use of cooling system, energy demand, so lowering the ecological footprint. Depending on fog Liquid Water Content, the collected water can be used for the irrigation of green roofs, gardens or in an optimal scenario also for domestic use. The analysis of local weather data is crucial to extend the territories where this system can be applied; but, more important, the improvement of the device’s technology is essential to implement it in new application fields.
Building Façade Retrofit: A Comparison Between Current Methodologies and Innovative Membranes Strategies for Overcoming the Existing Retrofit Constraints
Authors: Procaccini Giulia , Monticelli Carol
Published: June 2023

The constant expansion of the cities outside their borders, together with the rapid growth of new technologies and the environmental impact of the building sector, make existing buildings quickly obsolete, both in terms of their functions and their performances. Achieving the goal for greenhouse gas reduction by 2030 implies the necessity to improve the energy performances of the building stock and, for doing so, to overcome the existing constraints that very often prevent builders, tenants and residents from undergoing a renovation process. Given also that the building renovation contributes in the up-cycle strategy of the building stock, avoiding the production of unnecessary waste caused by demolition processes, innovative fast and average costly solutions must be shaped in order to encourage building façade renovation processes at different scales of interventions. Considering that membranes present some inherent properties (such as lightness, thinness, fast assembly, etc.) that make them suitable for both temporary and permanent façade renovations and valuable for overcoming current retrofit constraints, their investigation is of primary interest in order to promote and achieve an extensive building façade renovation. Starting by the investigation of Textile-based Façade Retrofit Solutions (TFRS), this analysis aims at comparing current methodologies with innovative membranes retrofit strategies, in order to evaluate the effectiveness and advantages of textile-based products in overcoming existing constraints to façade retrofit. The main goal of the analysis is to present innovative membrane existing solutions for making building façades resilient and adaptable to the several requirements expected from time to time. The research highlights future developments for TFRS with regard to both temporary and permanent solutions through their employment over existing façades.
New Perspectives for the Building Heritage in Depopulated Areas: A Methodological Approach for Evaluating Sustainable Reuse and Upcycling Strategies
Authors: Scolaro Antonello Monsù , De Medici Stefania , Giuffrida Salvatore , Trovato Maria Rosa , Cappello Cheren , Nasca Ludovica , Kaya Fuat Emre
Published: June 2023

The building reuse can reduce both consumption of non-renewable resources and production of construction and demolition waste, preserving the architectural and constructive culture. The progressive depopulation of the European inner areas is an opportunity to discuss the potential of reuse and sustainable adaptation of extensive heritage sites to cope with abandonment processes. The study of depopulation processes, as well as the investigation of case studies, allows to analyze the main strategies implemented to regenerate and repopulate abandoned inner areas, to highlight successful approaches and intervention criteria. In this scenario, “smart shrinkage” emerges as a powerful strategy to systemize resources and values embedded in the territories. On the basis of the economic-territorial interpretation of the performance decay process of buildings and settlement systems, developed by the research group of the Universities of Sassari and Catania, the paper proposes a multi-scale methodological approach for the evaluation of enhancement strategies and technological upcycling. The research links building performance with the urban and territorial values, integrating the Performance-Based Building Design in an axiological approach based on the solidarity between functions and values, referring to the economic category of human and urban capital. The model is tailored to the characteristics of Sardinia, the Italian region with the strongest population shrinkage in inner areas. The result is an analysis-evaluation-programming model, based on an iterative process of information/decision-making, allowing to steer intervention strategies toward a balance between the rehabilitation of the built environment and the enhancement of cultural and environmental resources, offering new opportunities for socioeconomic development.
Climate Adaptation in Urban Regeneration: A Cross-Scale Digital Design Workflow
Authors: Morganti Michele , Ricci Diletta
Published: June 2023

Urban vulnerability has many facets. Among these, urban texture and plot pattern, building massing and density, greatly affect the microclimate. Thence, redefining urban regeneration design criteria for climate neutrality is crucial, including environmental factors in the design process at different scales. In the light of climate change, despite this urgent call, adaptive design approaches useful to assess trade-offs between urban regeneration scenarios and microclimate quality are lacking. This paper introduces a novel digital design workflow that integrates climate quality and associated indicators in urban and building design, adopting a cross-scale approach. The main goal is to increase the resilience of the built environment in the foresight of future scenarios, by promoting climate-sensitive design solutions. Environmental performances were analysed using digital tools and implemented in a design workflow, allowing urban microclimate analysis. Performance metrics were calculated using Urban Weather Generator and Energy Plus. With the former tool a climate performance comparative study has been run in different scenarios, by varying morphological parameters and computing the intensity of the Urban Heat Island. While, Energy Plus was used to simulate the impact of building form and UHI on building energy demand, highlighting the interdependence of different design scales and addressing optimal building performance. The results provide additional levels of knowledge, both in terms of analysis and design scenario evaluation: urban metrics and climate impacts, building form and envelope design, adaptation solutions. This workflow is tested and a scenario suitability for the Mediterranean city is shown, exploiting the research-by-design transformations of 22@ Innovation District of Barcelona. The paper highlights the correlation between microclimate and design solutions and lays the foundations for a climate/design cross-talk to help policymakers and practitioners achieve urban climate adaptation goals.
Short-Term Wind Speed Forecasting Model Using Hybrid Neural Networks and Wavelet Packet Decomposition
Authors: Lakzadeh Adel , Hassani Mohammad , Heydari Azim , Keynia Farshid , Groppi Daniele , Astiaso Garcia Davide
Published: June 2023

Wind speed is one of the most vital, imperative meteorological parameters, thus the prediction of which is of fundamental importance in the studies related to energy management, building construction, damages caused by strong winds, aquatic needs of power plants, the prevalence and spread of diseases, snowmelt, and air pollution. Due to the discrete and nonlinear structure of wind speed, wind speed forecasting at regular intervals is a crucial problem. In this regard, a wide variety of prediction methods have been applied. So far, many activities have been done in order to make optimal use of renewable energy sources such as wind, which have led to the present diverse types of wind speed and strength measuring methods in the various geographical locations. In this paper, a novel forecasting model based on hybrid neural networks (HNNs) and wavelet packet decomposition (WPD) processor has been proposed to predict wind speed. Considering this scenario, the accuracy of the proposed method is compared with other wind speed prediction methods to ensure performance improvement.
Adaptive “Velari”
Authors: Raimondi Alberto , Rosini Laura
Published: June 2023

As it is known, the global phenomenon of rising temperatures causes uncomfortable and often harmful conditions for human beings living in moderate-climate zones, such as the Mediterranean area, especially in the hottest periods. Examinations of metropolitan cities can witness that high temperatures generate Urban Heat Island (UHI), due to population, buildings, vehicles and human activities in general. With the increase of rising temperatures in the latest decades, people living in big cities have gotten used to tackling heat discomfort with electricity charged cooling systems. As a result, the energy consumption for air-conditioning causes UHIs’ effects to further grow. It is scientifically confirmed that the behavioral habit of relying on artificially generated cold whenever temperatures rise will eventually make the climate crisis more problematic in the near future. Energy communities are used to producing, storing and consuming energy on site; therefore, power sources must be in close proximity to users. Albeit neglected in the Modern Era, the most proximate and sustainable energy supply is directly available to us: sunlight. The origin of hot temperatures, discomfort and energy waste is, indeed, the most exploitable power generator men can access to. In Southern Europe or Middle East cities, the use of veils as urban-scale shading devices is part of the consolidated tradition; a well-known example can be found in the Spanish city of Sevilla, where textile curtains named “Sevillans” are stretched between buildings. At the present time, we’re witnessing that the climate mitigation action of shading systems can be pursued in combination with energy production, with the development of membrane integrated flexible photovoltaic cells (PV). Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates, designed by the Foster Studio, or the Solar trees of the German pavilion at EXPO 2015 in Milan and the Promenade of the EXPO 2021 in Dubai are some innovative yet relevant cases. The use of PV cells for sun-shielding purposes is optimal to respond to a double-sided problem with a single object. Manufacturing an adaptive velario using composite fibers (i-Mesh), could both allow us to design the shape and modulate the density of integrated PV cells as needed. Method: To identify the best position for the adaptive tensile canopies, it is necessary to superimpose different site-specific data: temperatures in the urban area, in particular close to buildings; surfaces that receive most of the daytime radiation; sunlight and ventilation. To develop the most suitable solutions to many environmental scenarios, three-dimensional simulations performed with virtual models must be used both at urban (Envimet) and at building scale (in-Sight). Expected results: An algorithm capable of determining the “Velari” best position and the proper shading/density factor. A model, applied to a case study in Rome, to serve an evaluation of the benefits of this technology in terms of decreasing surface temperatures of external horizontal and vertical surfaces of buildings and streets.
A Serious Game Proposal for Exploring and Designing Urban Sustainability
Authors: Romano Manuela , Rogora Alessandro
Published: June 2023

This contribution reports on part of the research carried out in the development of a digital serious game to explore and design urban sustainability. The work investigates the application of role-playing logics in urban transformation planning processes. Digital technologies support the participatory process and allow users to learn, interact and discuss the effectiveness of solutions when co-designing quality conditions for the everyday living environment and the sustainable development of their area. The method intends to develop procedures and simulations that aim to clarify and verify the results that transformations can have on the area’s ecological footprint. During the game, players gain knowledge and awareness of the individual behaviour changes and the built environment trasformations, necessary in order to impact their areas as sustainably and as little as possible. Prefiguring resilient and sustainable urban habitats, increasing user awareness of the need to adopt more responsible behaviours, increasing ability of the built environment to meet community needs by practising low environmental impact lifestyles: these key aspects are observing at all phases of the design process. This paper describes the progress of research carried out on the construction of the structure and rules of the game, developed prior to testing the method in the context of the municipality of Rescaldina, in the Milan metropolitan area.
Industrial Heritage of Belgrade: Brownfield Sites Revitalization Status, Potentials and Opportunities Missed
Authors: Pavlović Jelena , Šabanović Ana , Ćuković-Ignjatović Nataša
Published: June 2023

Being created during the period of intensive industrialization, industrial buildings and landscapes carry importance as birth places of rapid technological progress, social and economic changes, which has established their great significance for modern human history and identity. Termination of their active function causes symptoms of decline to appear gradually, and their number decreases as the time passes. They are often endangered regardless of their protection status. Implementation of adaptive reuse principles allows for less strict approach to conservation practice, and its benefits are demonstrated worldwide. Despite that fact, industrial heritage has not been revitalized enough through adequately treated sites in Serbia. That indicates lack of understanding of the value of this cultural and historical heritage, as well as its suitable future purposes, impossible without some form of active dialog between participants in the planning process. The legal preconditions for this collaboration exist in Serbian regulations, and they are examined in the paper, but other potential causes of the lack of consensus that result in failure are also explored. In Belgrade, industrial brownfields occupy attractive locations, often targeted for market-driven redevelopment. For that reason, the paper explores current practice of revitalizing brownfield sites of industrial heritage in Belgrade. It considers the achievements, probable missed opportunities, and remaining potentials where acquired knowledge can be utilized. Key results of the research define critical points in the planning process for the preservation of values despite the modernity of brownfield sites transformations. The purpose of this paper is to help safeguard industrial landscapes of Belgrade and Serbia, and their sustainable conversion, the most adequate for the present moment, as well as to contribute to urban reconstruction of declining landscapes to which these brownfield sites belong.
New Urban Centralities: Universities as a Paradigm for a Sustainable City
Authors: Maitan Camilla , Faroldi Emilio
Published: June 2023

The urgency of facing up to the new challenges posed by climate change has relaunched the debate on the future of the city, a thought which points to public buildings as the way to promote the main processes of urban regeneration, both physical and social. Universities and their spaces are among the permanent architectures of the consolidated fabric. With their educational role par excellence, they are one of the most suitable urban institutions through which to promote an environmentally responsible attitude. The concept of sustainability is now an undisputed value which involves all applied disciplines, but the debate on how architecture should respond to this urgent need is still open. This paper proposes dialectical ecologism as an attitude to achieve significant environmental standards not only through the choice of sustainable materials and technologies, but also by rediscovering in public and community spaces, as well as in the character and language of architecture, the potential to make the built environment adaptable and resilient to contemporary challenges. In these terms, an initial theoretical reflection, whose main subject is the university campus and its contribution in terms of ecological impact and wise use of resources, will be followed by a description of the themes that guide sustainable design, which find application in the actions recently conducted on two Milan campuses of the Polytechnic University of Milan.
Environment for Healthy Living
Authors: Giofrè Francesca
Published: June 2023

How do we build a healthy vision of the future? What interventions should architects promote to support human health and well-being, and from where do we start? The paper discusses the concept of health in a broader vision through international documents, focusing on the area of action for architects, and stressing the crucial role of collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approaches to achieving optimal health balance. Moreover, it argues that the various contributions presented at the Conference link them to a unique vision.
New Paradigms for Indoor Healthy Living
Authors: De Capua Alberto
Published: June 2023

For some time, we have been witnessing a series of alarms that warn us that our wealth is leading to an exaggerated and increasing use of energy and resources, as well as the deep and irreversible transformation of natural systems and social inequality, causing a continuous growth of the overall impact of the human species. “Ecology” and “environment” have become the key words of the third millennium: a media bombardment that has helped to overcome the insurmountable barrier of indifference and insensitivity. Everything that has to do with architectural design, from the choice of materials to the technologies used, has been confronted with the term “sustainability,” whose meaning, despite the attempt to place it in a univocal definitional apparatus, always takes on different nuances and meanings. The text defines the complex system of principles that animate architecture today whether those aimed at greater attention to and protection of the health of users and the environment or also concerns social and economic issues when it is proposed as a cultural, social, ecological and economic change necessary to safeguard future generations. Today, we are often witnesses of an inadequacy and poor quality that concerns precisely the aspects of health and safety. The origin of this failure is attributable to attitudes, indifferent to housing needs, easily found in the majority of designers: the environmental scale of the project intended mainly as morpho-typological abstraction, the superficiality in technological choices, and the poor verification of interactions between technical elements and housing needs.
Healthy and Empowering Life in Schoolyards. The Case of Dante Alighieri School in Milan
Authors: Dessì Valentina , Fianchini Maria , Zuccoli Franca , Colombo Raffaella , Morrone Noemi
Published: June 2023

This paper presents a participatory process aimed at improving outdoor education in a primary school in Milan. The rationale of this work was that the psycho-physical benefits for children from outdoor living could be enhanced through outdoor education. Indeed, open-air environments are fit for supporting learning experiences, bringing out different abilities and improving well-being. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, schoolyards turned out to be a resource for overcoming physical distancing. Nevertheless, the availability of flexible physical environments and proper equipment for the educational goals is a basic condition for overcoming difficulties in the extensive use of outdoor spaces in schools. The purpose of this work was to support the school in designing new outdoor educational environments with a focused vision on the pedagogical context. Thus, the process was developed by a multidisciplinary team with the involvement of the students and the teaching staff. By the initial analytical stage, site and use conditions as well as emerging needs were enlightened. These outcomes were assumed to develop a design solution both suitable for the innovation goals and attentive to environmental aspects. The proposal was selected for funding by the Municipality and implemented. Finally, a three-year post-occupancy evaluation program started in the earliest stages of use. In conclusion, by the first monitoring activities, it emerged that outdoor educational experiences increased and diversified from the past, together with students’ perception of opportunities and benefits achieved from more frequent and longer work in external environments, and their expectation of involvement in proposing further implementations.
A Synthesis Paradigm as a Way of Bringing Back to Life the Artistic Monuments Inspired by the Motives of the People’s Liberation Struggle and Revolution of Yugoslavia
Authors: Batakoja Meri , Hrastar Tihana
Published: June 2023

The artistic monuments inspired by the motives of the People’s Liberation Struggle and Revolution of Yugoslavia are stratified phenomena constructed through a multitude of meanings. They are an indispensable part of important movements of architectural thought: the Yugoslavian avant-garde and the synthesis of all arts as its distinctive operational mode; the process of how the modern non-figurative means became an official language to Yugoslavian socialist ideology as opposed to the soc-realist figuration of the Eastern Bloc; the popularization of the Yugoslavian heritage taking place in the last decade as a unique enclave of the world scene of modern architecture, etc. This paper aims to argument their conception and meaning as a complex synthesis of art, architecture, technology and nature, and at the same time to open a potential health paradigm positioning them in the context of open-air culture, new ritual practices of social memory and new museum-destination types of contemporary art forms. In terms of methodology, this study puts together architectural scholars who actively work on the problem of the synthesis of the arts, offers a detailed review of existing scientific knowledge on artistic monuments in order to provide a new conceptual frame, an instructive yet speculative material that can alter the perception away from the old ideological stand into a new and healthy synthesized experience. Apart from the theorization of this synthesis paradigm as a way of bringing back to life the artistic monuments inspired by the motives of the People’s Liberation Struggle and Revolution of Yugoslavia, this paper provides criteria for this new conceptual frame and showcases them upon selected case study.