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In the construction sector, the new Industry 4.0 and circular economy paradigms are currently playing an increasingly important role in order to respond to demands for energetic efficiency, optimisation of resource usage, automation and production activities monitoring. Therefore, this article aims to at illustrate industrial research and an experimental development activity that led to the creation of an innovative product named MULTIFId. It consists of an intelligent, economical and low-emission panel, made with waste from the paper and cardboard industrial manufacturing process which intends to contribute to the development of the fundamental enabling technology of "Advanced Materials" for Intelligent Factories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes specific usage scenarios of an innovative platform, interfacing users, monitoring, and simulations for building energy simulations and the computation of key performance indicators to support, in an interoperable and open vision, design and management choices exploiting the enabling capabilities of ICT in architecture. The modularity of the proposed solution allows the development of pre-defined usage scenarios for professionals: impact of modifications in technological design choices, model calibration, and performance gap between simulated and monitored building data. The paper faces some new architectural usage scenarios of the tool, considering its enabling capabilities, and focuses on the tool's components developed and tested in the EU H2020 E-DYCE project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes both the method and the preliminary outcomes of the "Blind-assistive autonomous Droid Device: BUDD-e" research experience, funded by Polisocial Award 2021 of Politecnico di Milano, and designed to exploit a multidisciplinary approach to bridge the gap of inclusive design, making spaces and services accessible, functional, and usable by Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI) people. The research purpose is to develop accessible public places and indoor environments where the autonomous robot BUDD-e will act as guide for the BVI people. User-centred design principles will be applied to support accessibility to - both outdoor and indoor - public places, where the robot guide BUDD-e will be a primary feature in allowing access to services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is part of the design strategies of reassembly and reuse of buildings according to the transition to circular economy. Specifically, the paper addresses the issue of architectural envelopes made of drywall and their executive design according to a Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) approach, based on a case study of a temporary wooden housing unit for which there are several scenarios of use and end of life once the first cycle of use of the components of the envelope has come to an end. In particular, the paper, based on the collection of environmental profiles of products through Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), wants to define a balance between the environmental impacts incorporated in the used materials and the benefits related to the adoption of dry construction techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike other industrial sectors that already apply re-manufacturing, the construction sector is slow to experiment with these sustainable practices. Hence, this paper introduces key results of the Re-NetTA project, conducted at Politecnico di Milano and funded by Fondazione Cariplo (2018-0991), which intends to outline the conditions necessary to activate circular processes in the field of tertiary construction. In order to extend the life of construction products, the paper proposes three circular models based on re-manufacturing. Developed with stake-holders and experts in an inter-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach, the proposed models represent a contribution towards sustainable design and organisational practices of construction products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper shows the results of an applied research carried out at the Department of Architecture, Roma Tre University, to integrate a multi-criteria method in the generative design process of envelope refitting with the aim of implementing a holistic evaluation of sustainability. The resulting Decision Support System is created for the decision-maker who has to assess the multiple performance aspects of a complex system by considering alternative options. It is a procedure that promotes multi-disciplinarity in the generative design process via horizontal integration of the skills of subjects involved in the process, besides vertical integration in relation to the inclusion of further specialisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary society is changing by reason of technical, technological and social processes that are evolving faster than ever before. Thinking and designing with a Human Centered Design (HCD) approach means expanding the catchment area of the possible users of our product or service without losing specificity and relevance in terms of performance. It is necessary to conceive spaces, services and products that are able to adapt to the variable characteristics of the context, and which can dynamically respond to needs that vary in time for the same user base. The HC project assumes that an organized multidisciplinary approach has to be applied to identify a suitable, effective and articulated response for this scenario. The paper investigates application tools that can be useful to pursue the objectives of complex interdisciplinary projects. Some national and international researches carried out by the project team, supporting and using a HCD methodology will be specifically described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If the progressive process of humanization of the hospital and of the socio-health structures has led to the transition from the biomedical approach to the bio-psycho-social one, shifting the attention from the disease to the individual as a whole, technological advances (IoT, AI, robotics) are leading to a further reorganization of hospital structures and the birth of new highly original and relevant forms of interaction aimed at the "medicalization of life". The paper addresses one of the main challenges that all of us -- technicians, health professionals, scholars -- are called to face which is to combine the dualism between "Technical Progress" and "Humanization" through a dialogue/comparison between patient-centered vision and vision centered on the bio-technology of care spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aim is to describe the major findings of a PhD research having the objective of defining and developing an instrument (Green City Circle) for the design of existing urban districts, through a circular approach and with the point of view of resilience and energy efficiency. The research approach is multi-disciplinary, aiming to evaluate both risk resilience and slower processes on an eco-systemic perspective. The paper aims to reflect upon these questions by deepening the study of a set of Key Performance Indicator and of alternative scenarios composition. The instrument's target has been selected into local public bodies as major enablers of local regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood actively equalises its moisture content in relation to its surrounding environment. Technical applications that can harness this characteristic can have a great impact in the improvement of indoor hygrometric comfort. So far few applications have made use of this unique property. The natural hygroscopic intelligence of wood can lead to the development of a new technology capable of ensuring improved indoor comfort. The natural material can thus be engineered by creating responsive composites made from wood waste and transformed through 4D printing. The biomimetic actuators studied in this paper are aimed at linking the transformation of form into environmental control functionality applied to building comfort in adaptive and passive solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the façade sector, the ecological and circular transition requires the adoption of new business models that exploit the value of the material as much as possible. In this context, the Internet of Things (IoT) is identified as a potential innovation driver for the widespread use of circular approaches. The aim of the paper is to clarify the role of IoT in enabling five circular business models in the façade sector. The potential benefits of an IoT-based façade system are highlighted through a matrix underscoring the relationship between information produced and key actions to achieve the innovative business models. The research discussion and findings open the debate on the perspective of digitally integrated building components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technological advancement of robotic automation in construction allows for the identification of a renewed design agenda at the intersection of professional practice, academic research, higher education, and the cultural context in which innovations take place. This paper outlines research conducted in the field of large scale digital robotic additive manufacturing at Lawrence Technological University, College of Architecture and Design, in collaboration with the artchitecture firm Daub and the start-up Citizen Robotics in Metro Detroit. The creation of a prototype for a temporary installation is used to assess the building feasibility of a home scheduled for completion in 2023, in which a portion of the exterior will be 3D printed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enabling Technologies have the potential to transform both the physical flow of materials and resources (production and construction methods), and the intangible organisational and managerial relationships (exchange and monitoring of data and relationships along the entire chain of value). They should, therefore, be considered important in supporting change processes aimed at the circular use of resources. This paper presents some research and experiments, at European and Italian level, aimed at developing and applying Enabling Technologies for circular economy, and at aligning them with the needs and challenges of society, by directly involving actors of the building sector ecosystem in moments of discussion and co-creation to define potential strategies and operational actions for innovation in the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current and increasingly intensive technocratic drift recognises the indiscriminate power of techniques in solving several problems, including the struggle against climate change and its impact on cities. One of the future challenges concerns the effective and conscious application of KETs for the creation of smart environments in historical heritage, which plays a strategic role for its conservative values, but also in the broader strategy for limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed paper reports some preliminary results of a research aimed at investigating and acknowledging these technologies as an enabling medium to undertake more informed deterministic choices in the field of CH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of digital technologies is an open and very rapidly evolving field of investigation and experimentation. This paper addresses their role in Cultural Heritage (CH) safeguarding activities, drawing on the research results of the H2020 project "4CH-Competence Centre for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage" (CC) [GA 101004468]. 4CH moves from the human-centric vision of digital transformation, advocated by the EU, and envisages an interdisciplinary approach, combining theoretical and practical knowledge, all in support of a reflection on the role of enabling technologies, the new skills associated with them, the CH preservation and enhancement related approaches, and their integration into the established technical culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate scenarios require the implementation of climate proof actions. The effectiveness of such projects directly depends on the knowledge of local contexts and on the built environment's characteristics in relation to climate risk conditions. Innovative methods of knowledge can be implemented through the use of enabling technologies. Based on these considerations, the paper proposes the Coast-RiskBySea model as support for climate proof decision-making in relation to coastal flood risk, with the aim of developing new synergies between environmental design and enabling technologies. The proposed model was tested on an application case in the city of Naples by simulating a climate proof measure to assess the effectiveness of this solution in terms of damage reduction, and to define the potential and criticality of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the development of Living Hub: a laboratory for research, experimentation and training based on the Living Lab model, integrated with the use of the Simulation technique, to optimise the study of the interaction between people, environments, and technology. The lab aims to support the design of capacitating technologies and responsive environments that can adapt to the needs of their users, with reference to the home context. Located in Liguria, a region with the highest rate of ageing in the world, Living Hub focuses experimentation on innovative models for the care of the frail through different levels of scalar/modular integration of enabling technologies in the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the evolutionary tendencies in the use of artificial intelligence in building design, highlighting: a) the ground lost by knowledge-based expert systems and the diffusion of systems combined with heuristic and stochastic approaches; b) the spread of evolutionary algorithms in the field of optimisation; c) a climax of the influence of probabilistic approaches around 2010; d) the progressive dominance of deep learning since 2012. It is likely that the next step requires hybridisation of deep learning and symbolic artificial intelligence, and it is expected that the contribution of design domain experts in terms of knowledge formalisation will be a fundamental driver of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to present a methodology for the integration of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) microclimate simulation and a Geographic Information System (GIS). The first workflow involves the attribution of spatial coordinates to the point data extracted from the CFD, the implementation of an SQLite database, and the connection to the database to visualise and use information on environmental and comfort variables. The second workflow involves georeferencing the CFD raster output, attributing an ID to the point data, creating a point grid in a GIS environment, and merging these with the point data on the microclimate. For demonstration purposes, the methodology is tested on a real case study using ENVI-met and ArcGIS Pro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responses to the current energy crisis and to action against climate change have produced a wide variety of experimentations. Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) and Energy Communities (EC) are spreading as aggregators of enabling technologies, but the knowledge and skills required to plan, implement and monitor them still need to be developed. Technology alone is not enough to facilitate knowledge sharing and the experimentation and co-creation of solutions. The paper focuses on methods and tools that allow to support the creation of "energy citizens" through considerations developed in project H2020 GRETA (Green Energy Transition Actions) and in COST Action 'PED-EU-NET'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of a research funded by the Veneto Region concerning the study of innovative temporary wooden housing units for the hospitalisation and accommodation of elderly people in the case of functional requalification of buildings used as care homes. The project originates from the observation that existing buildings used as care homes may often need to be redeveloped. In this scenario, a temporary housing unit with advanced comfort and energy saving features may, therefore, constitute an optimal solution for the protection of elderly people and, at the same time, to experiment with new models of living, besides possibly adapting them for permanent accommodation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the results of the Research Project "METROPOLIS - Integrated and sustainable methods and technologies for resilience and safety in urban systems", funded under PONREC 2007-2013. Among all the results of the work, the paper is focused on the development of a model to measure climate vulnerability in urban areas. The application of the model provides the assessment of impacts and the subsequent planning of corrective actions to increase building and urban resilience by means of technological retrofitting. The testing of the model for heat waves and pluvial flooding has been implemented in the urban system of Naples City which has been divided into the physical subsystem and the population subsystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from a critical interpretation of some authors involved in the debate raised by the call, this paper hypothesizes practicable conditions for a circular, nonpyramidal integration of technological disciplines into design processes, presenting some experimental investigations in support of these concepts. The paper aims to investigate, in particular, how the role of digital technologies, the key players in a fullblown transformation of thought, impacts the designer's education models and has a tendency to redefine both the boundaries between disciplines and the very role of the designer. Some significant international experiences in the field of the education of designers show that a humanistic approach to controlling technologies and to "ubiquitous" cooperation among strains of knowledge presents a possible scenario of profound rethinking of the role of the technological designer within a framework of shared fragility of the planet's economic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade the European residential market has seen radical social and economic changes. The economic situation and heterogeneous housing demand has created the necessary conditions for the development of new housing models. This paper introduces the methods, procedures and tools of a process model for new construction or retrofitting of residential buildings called Collective Self-Organised (CSO) housing. The CSO process model is characterized by service sharing, reduction of construction costs and use of high energy performance technologies developed through the PROFICIENT research project financed by the European community's 7th framework programme (GA N°312219). The paper also presents an example of a Dutch CSO housing project named 'De Hallen'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides an overview of the key elements of a research project focused on the development of a multilayer platform aimed at supporting regeneration process at district scale particularly for what concerns the improvement of comfort conditions. The paper describes the adopted methodologies and the main stages in which the research is organized. The backbone of the multi-layer platform is described according to the purpose and to the expected impacts. The role of the tool and of ICT in increasing the end-users' awareness about the potential benefit deriving by the adoption of efficient solution and energy saving measures is discussed. A reflection concerning the barriers to further developments and the most promising implementation opportunities completes the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time acts as a fundamental variable of urban transformation. In fact, changing needs can make an architecture or a technological unit obsolete over time. Precisely, this unexpected deficiency in performance can no longer be interpreted as a limitation but rather as potential to update the architecture itself. This paper fits into this framework and investigates both the potential and limitations of architecture considered an upgradeable system in which time, and the need for changes, become a variable of transformation. By analysing a case study and possible updating strategies relative to a renewed demand framework, the paper underlines the potential that modern architecture offers in terms of updating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a research activity focused on the development of a range of membranes based on distilled bitumen and polymers, specifically designed for high levels of noise insulation from airborne noise. These membranes can be used in multiple layers products, made by the overlapping of materials both organic and synthetic, and can be integrated into the most widespread construction building systems, and in nautical and manufacturing sectors. The newly developed membranes incorporate recycled materials, placing the research in the context of the European Union Circular Economy Package. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possible effects of climate change in urbanized areas - evidenced by several studies - led the City of Bologna to adopt a Climate Change Adaptation Plan to assess potential risks and vulnerabilities as a basis for adaptation actions prioritizing interventions through a coordinated local strategy. This paper summarizes some measures implemented at local level in collaboration with the Department of Architecture of the University of Bologna and, in particular, the pilot actions for urban greening developed within the European project H2020 - ROCK and the proposals for intervention included made during the "Design for Adaptation" project. Resilient Urban Communities" PhD Climate KIC summer school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of resilience related to the built environment, thus to urban and territorial scales, counts today a multiplicity of declinations and applications: with respect to these scales, the paper deals with the central role of information for the analysis of fragility and vulnerability and for the development of resilience strategies. Assuming a hierarchical vision of knowledge and considering the current evolution of information technologies, the purpose is to outline innovative knowledge management methods and applications aimed at promoting forms of resilience of social, physical and infrastructural systems. Hitherward, the implications of current technological innovations related to Big Data and IoT (Internet of Things) are also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first results of the research agreement signed by the Federico II University and CDP Immobiliare concerning reusing and recycling construction waste in the urban regeneration project. The research is aimed to develop a technical protocol for the ex-ante evaluation of the demolition operations, with a special focus on the criteria for picking the material samples to undergo chemical-physical analysis. The article is focused on the demolition process, implementing a BIM-based filing of the building system and aimed at a preliminary understanding of the material quantity, the material consistency and the state of conservation of the elements to be demolished. A tentative pre-characterisation, and an inventory of any contaminants present in the materials are also provided. In the form of discussion, further implications related the building characterisation and the planning of material flows with the reuse and recycle supply chains are provided as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy applied to the urban context is linked to sustainability objectives focused on environmental performances overlooking socio-political implications, in order to achieve a circular balance within the neoliberal paradigm of business-nature-society in a continuous growth scenario. This paper discusses this criticality, articulating a counter perspective based on the debate of degrowth, circularity and technology through the analysis of three cases of socio-technical assemblages: Transition Towns; Repair Cafes; Community Gardens. The research individuates the effectiveness of urban practices in which the circularity is implemented beyond purely economic interactions or ecoefficiency parameters, defining the potentialities of a degrowing circular city based on inclusiveness, social justice and reciprocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Green Deal places at the centre of its policies the need to act in order to achieve climate neutrality goals by 2050. In this context, the role of cities and, in particular, of already existing buildings is relevant. Although they are responsible for 40% of energy consumption, only 1% are involved in major restructuring processes. In the context of smart city strategies and to improve their performances, Europe proposes various approaches such as Positive Energy Districts and Industry 4.0. This paper analyses case studies and innovative European projects with the aim of identifying the most relevant strategic actions. Eventually, it presents a real case in the city of Bologna as a basepoint for the reflection proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1970s, in Europe the industrial decommissioning phenomenon has led to the generation of an obsolescent and widespread building stock, located in highly strategic areas. This paper, aiming to make abandoned industrial buildings re-enter the market, focused on the development of prefabricated housing modules, according to the nested-building renovation approach. The project started from the constraint's typological analysis (architectural, functional and structural) of 900 reinforced concrete industrial buildings in view of the intervention replicability. Finally, to validate the design and technological choices, the analysed system was applied to a real case study in Verona: the Greggi Warehouse (1960) in the "ex-Manifattura Tabacchi" factory area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of the research activity carried out within the framework of the European project H2020 REFLOW, which aims to build an integrated approach for the development of innovative participatory practices dedicated to urban circular metabolisms. As a result of the survey conducted on the application of collaborative models for the urban circular economy, it emerged that there is no shared operational strategy that can be adopted for the circular development of complex systems, such as cities. Based on this premise, this paper offers a new perspective on how to build and validate a transitional pathway for the development of circular cities through the adoption of a design-oriented approach that orchestrates different resources and capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is derived from a feasibility study for a single-story elevation at the Kent School of Architecture and Planning (KSAP) in the United Kingdom. This project embraced two fundamental principles of the circular economy: flexibility of interior spaces and Design for Disassembly (DfD). The goals were to reduce the risk of demolition and preserve the value of the building material to empower its later use. These principles formed the solution for the structural frame. For this paper, the engineering phase was carried out to improve the structural connections designed according to DfD principles and following generative design methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For years, the building sector has been marked by the progressive exploitation of raw materials and the growing production of waste. The product and process innovations, based on waste valorisation starting from their geographical location and identification, prefigure potential reductions of environmental impacts. This paper presents the methodology and findings of the mapping of waste from construction and manufacturing processes, carried out in Sardinia to identify possible scenarios of valorisation. The geographical location of waste production both in construction and manufacturing processes, along with their possible reuse, have allowed the definition of some supply chains which are able to process their own waste, according to industrial symbiosis scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

. Crisis contexts such as the MENA region allow us to envision effective scenarios of sustainable development based on local production systems supported by digital innovation. The constant exchange of know-how between the MENA area and the European continent represents a fundamental tool in which processes of technology transfer help to accelerate the transformation processes currently underway and make them more effective. This paper investigates the effectiveness of using local resources for producing building components by means of innovative technologies based on circular economy processes. The objective of this analysis is to evaluate the possibilities of transferring enabling technologies from the Italian context to that of MENA as a tool for economic reactivation directed towards circularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Urban Innovative Actions initiative of the European Union supports pilot projects aimed at identifying and testing new solutions related to sustainable urban development. The cities that responded to the call for proposals had the opportunity to experiment with creative ideas, which are not funded by traditional sources, and to turn them into prototypes. The first UIA call was part of the process of definition of the European Urban Agenda. With a view to consolidating collective intelligence, this paper proposes a critical analysis of the 18 projects that won the first UIA Call. The overall objective is to highlight how Urban Authorities interpreted the definition of innovation through the various projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once reactivated and integrated within urban networks and services, cultural heritage can become a driving force for Social Innovation, a place of culture, which is given back to collective life and returns to be considered a common good. Among the urban regeneration processes - which identify the city as the field of action of Social Innovation - the reflection focuses on the reuse of abandoned cultural assets, present in various small and medium-sized realities with high artistic and cultural value. In this context, the research aims at providing theoretical premises and meta-design prefigurations, with reference to European addresses and good practices. In closing, the paper illustrates the outcome of an experimentation on the Italian territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renewed interest for under used sites of historical city centres is addressing a change in design paradigms on existing buildings involving local communities in the process from the very beginning. The paper reports a recent cooperation, named "Anteprima Lab", between the Department of Architecture (DA) of University of Bologna, the City of Bologna and Urban Center. The action is intended as an enabler of initiatives aimed at enhancing those places assumed as common goods by local communities. The pilot defined the functional and spatial features of an innovative participated environment that follows the socio-political trends characterizing the modern age of Bologna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing populations represent a challenge which involves the social dimension of Architecture. The PRACTICE research project deals with the outlining of the interactions between built up environments and the quality of life of the elderly population with the aim to single out building strategies for effective integration. The paper deals with the partial results of the Research, which has reached its last year of activity. In particular, an assessment tool for the quality of life of the elderly is presented and two case studies: an NZEB project to be used for social housing and a proposal for the regeneration of existing buildings for co-housing, carried out by means of a participatory method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses, seven years after the completion of construction works, the case study of the High School "L.Orsini" in Imola (BO). This sustainable school building was characterised since the design program phase by an innovative approach, based on integration of the various disciplines involved in building design as well as the contribution of a new professional figure, the energy and environmental consultant. This paper describes and analyses results and critical issues from the management and monitoring phases, with focus on the integration between technical systems and building. The high complexity of the applied technical building systems makes this case study of particular interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare facilities are complex buildings because of their articulation, organization and technology equipment. Designing a hospital needs a multidisciplinary approach in order to organize efficiently the building during the time and the project needs to be able to answer to the rapid changes of the research innovations and demands of the hospital staff, especially in emergency units. In this direction, flexibility becomes the key point for all the changes due to the progress of medical and technological knowledge. The paper analyzes some useful strategies for flexible hospital project on managerial, planning, engineering plants, structural and technological issues through a matrix of analysis studied by the authors of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from the results of the COST RESTORE research, the paper promotes the adoption of a new methodological approach to sustainable design capable of ensuring the energy efficiency of a building and the psychological well-being and health of its users by re-establishing harmony with nature. More specifically, it presents some of the most innovative technological envelope and system solutions used to create restorative environments, identifying existing connections between the design and implementation of regenerative building systems. The aim is to define a project idea that increasingly features typological and morphological contaminations of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper on the Urban Technology framework focuses on the many ways in which technological development interacts and engages with evolving urban systems. The study, carried out during a PhD visiting research agreement at the GSAPP of Columbia University (2018-19), aims to highlight the need for contamination between various fields of knowledge during all phases of the design process through the methodological approach of the Actor-Network Theory. The experiment conducted in the Lower East Side of Manhattan reveals, through participatory tools, the prefiguration of hybrid spaces resulting from the network of links established by technology as a hybrid and integrated actor within relationships between subjects of the design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidisciplinary skills and knowledges were common in historical constructions. The necessity to rethink the way we design and realize our built environment in response to the climate change is requiring the re-convergence of knowledge. The development of multidisciplinary practices and digital communication platforms are enabling the new transition. The design and fabrication of shell is one the field, where the cross-over of knowledge is most evident. Digital technologies are facilitating experimentations of complex shell geometries, a wise use of materials, and the development of new construction processes. This paper explores the transformation of shell designs, and the importance of multiple actors, through the analysis of a shell prototype developed for an international context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports the results of an experimental and multidisciplinary design research for the upcycling of a public residential building in the city of Sora to guarantee its architectural and environmental redevelopment, seismic improvement and energy efficiency. The project, drawn up on the basis of indications provided by a working group coordinated by Architect Renzo Piano, who promoted the initiative as senator for life, is supported by the Casa Italia Department of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The institution plans on considering this project a model based on which guidelines can be defined to outline effective design and process strategies in terms of costs and social and environmental repercussions for similar interventions throughout the national territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to offer insights into the new conditions the designer is called upon to face in the wake of the technical, cultural and cognitive transformations the spread of ICT is triggering in the construction industry. Digitization, in particular, might place architects in a position of intermediation between new forms of intelligence and new professional skills, defining a design ecosystem in which the effectiveness of decision-making increasingly depends on the way information is managed. In such a scenario, the designer is asked to perform tasks of coordination and "meaning control" of complex and automated processes, which require a deep understanding of the digital phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying systemic thinking to the resolution of complexity in biomimetic design allows technological integration between biological and man-made systems, thereby creating an autopoietic building organism. Emulating Nature in projects requires know-how cross-fertilization and hybridization. Mechanical solutions and those associated with the properties of materials are by no means the only options adaptive architecture can resort to in reproducing natural processes. This paper illustrates experiences that adopt adaptive autopoietic strategies at both urban and architectural product level. These strategies are typical of the natural world and involve the integration of technology and biology. The described experiences aim at highlighting the link between biomimetic design and the heteronomy of disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fener - Balat represents the 19th century Ottoman social way of life with particular construction techniques and urban life in Istanbul. In the 20th century, conservation approaches influenced the area and the recently there has been intervention in disaster prevention concerning architectural heritage. In this paper, a brief history and values have been elucidated. Urban resilience was intended in the historical area starting with a rehabilitation programme; however, various stakeholders display inconsistent scenarios on the historical built environment. As a methodology, the paper analyses major urban interventions influencing the area; in addition, monitoring after the Rehabilitation Programme via direct investigation on the neighbourhoods was discussed in the context of resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]