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This paper explores the impact of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), within the museum experience. Analysing various case studies highlights the potential of BCIs in visual communication design to personalise the interaction between the visitor and artwork, making experiences more engaging and meaningful. To overcome the limitations of current approaches, the paper proposes a reflection on an integrated model that combines neuroscience, design, and the humanities, centred on the individual and their interaction with the environment. This interdisciplinary approach, which lacks established design traditions in Visual Communication for Cultural Heritage, aims to offer new research perspectives to enhance individual perceptions during multisensory experiences of cultural heritage. Article info Received: 10/09/2024; Revised: 10/10/2024; Accepted: 12/10/2024

This paper challenges the idea that complex building geometries reflect the complexity of contemporary life; it does so by examining Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture, Robert Venturi’s seminal work from 1966, as well as later writings by advocates of a computationally-driven complexity. The essay shows that: a) complexity, rather than being defined absolutely, is relative in everyday speech; b) complexity, as defined in natural systems, cannot be extrapolated to human behavior; c) modern life is becoming simpler, rather than more complex; d) complexity is typically embedded within products and systems and, as such, inaccessible to ordinary consciousness; e) architectural complexity reflects a competitive drive for notoriety associated with avant-garde production, and leads to energy-inefficient buildings with an increased risk of control layer failure. Article info Received: 06/09/2024; Revised: 03/10/2024; Accepted: 04/10/2024

This paper discusses ongoing research at the University of Udine on environmental sustainability and risk assessment for built Heritage, which is increasingly affected by climate change. The study is part of the iNEST Young Researcher’s Call project, focusing on the rural mountainous areas of northeastern Italy as a case study. It brings together various disciplines to develop critical knowledge aimed at safeguarding built environments and improving holistic management tools. Specifically, it investigates the impact of climate on Daltz architecture, particularly in the village of Andreis (Pordenone, Italy). The research is based on targeted analytical investigations using specialised expertise, with a focus on wooden materials. Article info Received: 12/09/2024; Revised: 09/10/2024; Accepted: 10/10/2024

The synthesis of artificial intelligence, deep learning and parametric design in regenerative digital design can significantly reshape the pre-design phase in climate scenarios. By formulating a new workflow linking computational processes with human-centred design, it is possible to realise a more adaptive approach to environmental design that anticipates the complexities of our built environment and fosters responsive and resilient collective creativity. Starting from the abstract and introduction, a focus is proposed to investigate the complexity and emerging field of regenerative digital design, particularly in climate scenarios. The basic premise is that AI’s deep learning and natural language processing capabilities can go beyond simple visual outcomes to address nuanced and multifaceted design challenges. Article info Received: 14/10/2024; Revised: 18/10/2024; Accepted: 20/10/2024

The contribution presents new theoretical and methodological frameworks for urban coastal planning to enhance climate change resilience processes by defining and implementing urban resilience macro-strategies. The research, based on experiments conducted in both American and Italian contexts, highlights the vulnerability and susceptibility of urban coastal areas to hydraulic risks associated with climate change, such as extreme events and sea level rise. The study also reports on the results of current pilot projects testing these macro-strategies. The findings underscore the importance of adopting integrated, multidisciplinary, and interscalar approaches for the transformation and protection of urban coastal areas. Article info Received: 09/09/2024; Revised: 13/10/2024; Accepted: 15/11/2024

Climate change and the consequent loss of biodiversity pose a threat to humanity. In response, design practices that integrate ecosystem conservation and biomaterial production are emerging, promoting ecological design. Two case studies, one in the construction sector and the other in textiles, illustrate how design can contribute to this goal by adapting to the specificity and complexity of local ecosystems. The projects demonstrate that the interaction between materials, technologies, and ecological environments not only fosters sustainability but also creates economic opportunities through innovative and local production chains. The comparison between the two cases highlights distinct yet complementary approaches, suggesting potential cross-pollination between productive sectors to promote more sustainable local economies. Article info Received: 10/09/2024; Revised: 10/10/2024; Accepted: 11/10/2024

The article presents the case study of the Landwirtschaftliches Centre as an example of a building capable of promoting new modes of interaction between users and architecture through simple and analogical technologies. The paper aims to understand how a low-tech approach, based on prefabrication, local materials, and solutions without automation, can stimulate user awareness and responsibility. The study, conducted through site visits and interviews with users and the centre’s director, Markus Hobi, underlines how a ‘structural’ design approach can generate conscious and positive interactions between users and architecture. The paper’s originality lies in exploring the educational role of these interactions, which can offer a new perspective on architectural sustainability. Article info Received: 10/09/2024; Revised: 07/10/2024; Accepted: 09/10/2024

Complexity theory provides an essential framework for analysing buildings as complex systems, influenced by the interaction of architectural, structural and building services elements. To manage this complexity, BIM methods and tools for Facility Management leverage the language of drawing to represent the complexity of data and optimise its management. The analysis of more than three thousand rooms of the Piedmont Region Palace as a case study for this contribution demonstrates how algorithms and automatisms can facilitate the management of large amounts of data to improve the visualisation and interpretation of information. This paper examines the value of graphical interfaces in revealing hidden logics of complexity and transforming them into resources available to users for a new decision support system. Article info Received: 10/09/2024; Revised: 11/10/2024; Accepted: 14/10/2024

Recent European plans for energy and climate promote the adoption of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPVs) as key technologies to address the diverse challenges associated with climate neutrality. Although advancements in photovoltaic technology offer promising perspectives in terms of efficiency and durability, integrating these technologies into building components remains a complex and uncommon practice. Aiming to address the complexities related to BIPV system design and encourage broader commercialisation, this article presents a series of design strategies to tackle architectural, technological, economic, and environmental issues through a critical analysis of a real-world case study. Article info Received: 10/09/2024; Revised: 12/10/2024; Accepted: 14/10/2024

In relation to the theme of complexity and its etymological meaning in terms of an intertwining of elements that constitute a unit characterised by variability, the contribution focuses on the cultural heritage of Islamic art by considering the connections, environmental and socio-cultural interactions, and the intersections between craftsmanship and design of the Mashrabiya. Consisting of a projecting volume on the street front, covered with refined modular patterns typically in wood, the screen functions as a climatic and privacy device, adhering to some traditional principles of the Arab world, especially those related to the condition of women. The study investigates the symbolic and cultural role of the Mashrabiya, analysing the calculations and geometries underlying the design of the patterns and proposing their systematisation in open-source archives. Striking a balance between tradition and innovation, to preserve and transmit the value of the Mashrabiya for future developments, the contribution explores the integration between artisanal techniques and parametric design through the collaboration of different expertise. Article info Received: 17/09/2024; Revised: 13/10/2024; Accepted: 15/10/2024