The study emphasises the contribution of Biodesign in the radical ecological transition and encourages the use of collaborative biotechnological processes for the development of compatible products with ecosystem dynamics. The focus of the research will be on material design and its ability to contribute to the innovation of territories. In line with the principles of hyperlocal design, it will investigate approaches and virtuous experiences that will contribute to the re-activation of specific territorial contexts starting from endogenous resources and knowledge. Through the detailed exploration of the current scenario and the analysis of best practices, the contribution will argue its hypothesis in favour of project experiences rooted within a specific territorial context, reducing the material circuits. Aiming to provide a reflection on a specific project scenario, the paper will present a selection of projects realised at the Control + Junk Lab Study Centre at the Iuav University of, as peculiar case histories about the Venice Lagoon area. This contribution aims to provide new research perspectives in this area, oriented to the reactivation of traditional knowledge systems, recognised as depositories of indigenous knowledge of territories and local biocultural practices.

The present article illustrates the application of the Risk Analysis Interface (RAI), which was developed within the European project ResCult. This assessment model is focused on the risk evaluation of immovable cultural assets and their different components, that need to be preserved and managed in case of extreme events. In detail, this article describes the application of this risk assessment model to the two selected pilot case studies of the project, the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli in Venice and the Convent of San Nicola in Tolentino (Italy). This article highlights the application procedure and the results obtained by its implementation in the two pilot case studies. The focus of this article is underlying and explaining in-depth the functioning of the specific evaluation tools, to underline their suitability to be applied in ex-ante, in-itinere, and ex-post phase of a disaster occurrence. The outcome of this article is providing information about how applying the RAI developed within the ResCult project.

ABSTRACT In the frame of the Venezia2021 project the private ‘Byzantine house' designed by Giuseppe Torres in 1905 was chosen as the emblematic architectural site which marks Venice’s transition towards modernity, requiring study of its conservation in the lagoon environment of the city of Venice. In conjunction with the definition of a specific Path of Knowledge of the ground floor, a series of stone and lithoid materials as well as their related deterioration products from the interior rooms were sampled for analysis. The investigations covered a wide range of materials (plasters, mortars, natural and artificial stones, bricks, glass and finishings). They were carried out by means of a multi-analytical approach comprising SEM-EDX and optical microscopy; XRPD; XRF, ion chromatography; and Raman and infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. The stones identified are linked to the Venetian architectural tradition (Euganean trachyte and Istrian stone). The sands in the mortars are mainly of regional origin and the glass is compatible with traditional Venetian (Murano) recipes. Of particular interest is the presence of an intonachino charged with ground fluorite. The deterioration products are linked to the extensive and intense phenomenon of capillary rising damp and efflorescence deposition induced by the lagoon environment.

Building energy simulations can be effective in the real world only if the building energy model is appropriately tuned, i.e., calibrated. Whatever the purpose, from detailed energy design to energy audits or HVAC system control strategies, building energy simulations can provide accurate results only if the energy model itself is accurately developed. The aim of this article is to review and analyze the current methodologies and approaches used when assessing building energy performance through simulations, focusing on the need for a calibrated model to enhance the simulation's credibility. This literature review identifies novel and practical methodologies, focusing on data collection, energy modeling approaches, simulation software, and calibration techniques. Although several studies have focused on building energy simulation, partially covering the topics addressed in this review, a detailed analysis and comparison of methods through normalized scores to derive possible recurrences and reproducible methods have not yet been presented.

Urban regeneration works on the tangible and intangible assets of a city or part of a city. The research aimed at formulating an assessment methodology that allows for the simultaneous consideration of the tangible and intangible aspects that constitute the qualities of a part of a city. The theoretical frame of reference identifies conceptual frameworks to guide the assessment. Quality of life (QOL) and walkability (W) are chosen as the intangible and tangible dimensions, respectively. The methodology designed had to take summary variables into account for tangible elements. Similarly, walkability was summarised in complex variables carried over to observable and measurable variables. Finally, the QOL and W variables are considered in their dialectical and dynamic relationship. The statistical tools used to assess quality of life and walkability were different. The assessment of QOL and walkability was carried out using the tool of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), which can estimate latent variables from observed variables. The interaction between the variables was investigated using structural equation modelling (SEM). The sample surveyed to investigate the quality of the Piave neighbourhood, in the mainland part of the city of Venice, consists of 169 people. The results of the models highlight the relevance of the method used, given the satisfactory statistical indexes obtained. The results are also relevant from an empirical point of view. The study highlights the fact that the significant quality of the space that ensures high levels of accessibility is far from being matched by the quality of social relations, deemed problematic by the majority of those interviewed.

Regarding environmental sustainability and market pricing, the energy class is an increasingly more decisive characteristic in the real estate sector. For this reason, a great deal of attention is now devoted to exploring new technologies, energy consumption forecasting tools, intelligent platforms, site management devices, optimised procedures, software, and guidelines. New investments and smart possibilities are currently the object of different research in energy efficiency in building stocks to reach widespread ZEB standards as soon as possible. In this light, this work focuses on analysing 13 cities in Northern Italy to understand the impact of energy class on market values. An extensive data-mining process collects information about 13,093 properties in Lombardia, Piemonte, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Veneto, and Trentino alto Adige. Then, a feature importance analysis and a machine learning forecasting tool help understand the influence of energy class on market prices today.

Several energy gains or losses in buildings are influenced by occupant interactions with building services, such as lighting or HVAC systems, thermostat settings, and window and shading operations. Occupant behavior is usually triggered by discomfort, nevertheless actions taken to restore comfort can have an impact on final energy demand. Thus, an accurate energy assessment for both new and retrofit building design must properly account for occupant behavior, based on reliable models developed from real case studies and detailed monitoring. This work presents a new approach for continuous and non-intrusive monitoring of window opening angle, shading position, and lighting operation to determine the net air exchange area for ventilation. A camera-based device and a post-processing algorithm are developed, and a monitoring campaign over 6 month is carried out to showcase the monitoring system. The device consists of a camera setup connected to a microprocessor, and a dedicated script which enables the device to track window opening, shading movement and lighting operation through target and object identification. Results of the prototyping case study show that the proposed system can effectively detect window opening angles and shutter positions, dealing with multiple windows and shutters simultaneously and allowing the deployment of the benefits of continuous monitoring. The explored application is the direct use of the collected data for the calculation of natural ventilation rates from the net exchange area (EN 16798-7) over long term datasets. As future development, the monitoring system will be used to develop accurate behavioral models based on the experimental data to analyze and suggest the occupant’s response to discomfortable conditions in order to improve indoor air quality and save energy.

ABSTRACT One of the last scientific activities of Ermanno Grinzato was the research on radiant heating and cooling systems. In addition to providing a novel view for thermal and thermographic testing of these systems, he had foreseen the importance of using efficient and sustainable materials. Firstly, this work introduces the issue of testing radiant heating and cooling systems and the arising interest in geopolymers. Afterwards, the synergy between these two research fields is highlighted by the realisation and testing of a novel geopolymeric panel.