HOT – Healing Our Towns

Study day on climate change and how medium-sized cities can adapt

08/09/2025, h. 9:30-18:15
Politecnico di Milano, Building 16B access from via E. Bonardi room 16B.0.1

The opening seminar of the International Summer School HOT – Healing Our Towns provides a multidisciplinary forum to address the challenges posed by climate change and extreme heat in urban contexts. The programme brings together leading scholars and practitioners to discuss how design, planning, and innovation can contribute to more resilient and climate-adaptive cities.
Morning sessions focus on overarching themes such as the dynamics of climate change across different spatial scales, social vulnerabilities related to extreme heat, and the role of urban design in mitigating and adapting to these phenomena.
The afternoon is structured around two thematic dialogues. The first explores analytical frameworks and tools, including the use of digital twins, multi-scale assessments of heat island effects, and microclimate analysis. The second examines policy approaches and design strategies for climate adaptation, highlighting nature-based solutions, innovative green infrastructures, and urban forestry projects.
The seminar concludes with a discussion and a briefing for the subsequent fieldwork activities of the Summer School.

Relatori

Carlotta Bonvicini – Municipality of Reggio Emilia; Stefano Caserini – University of Parma; Nicola Colaninno – DAStU, Politecnico di Milano; Marta Ellena – CMCC (Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change); Valentina Galiulo – LAND; Marius Grønning – NMBU Oslo (Norwegian University of Life Sciences); Anne Loes Nillesen – Defacto Urbanism & TU Delft; Daniele Santucci – Climateflux & RWTH Aachen University; Marjolein van Esch – TU Delft

Responsabili

Ettore Donadoni, Cristiana Mattioli, Marco Voltini

Photo credits: SiMaMuSe – Andrea Garzulino, Luca Pietro Valisi, Carmelo Di Rosa