Could you tell us about yourself and your background until you arrive at the important position of Curator of the Biennale Architettura 2025? Any important news to share about your career and next projects?
I began my journey as an engineer, then became an architect, and pursued my PhD in a highly interdisciplinary setting—between the University of Cambridge and MIT. That cross-disciplinary approach shaped me. I have always seen cities not as static structures, but as dynamic conversations between disciplines—engineering, design, art, science, and beyond. That philosophy underpins the Biennale Architettura 2025.
At the Senseable City Lab and CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, our research and design reflect the same ethos. We are currently diving deep into projects on both fronts. Some quick examples: on the research side, we are utilizing AI to analyze the cooling power of urban vegetation across millions of data points and cities worldwide—a vital issue as global temperatures rise. On the design front, we are on-site in Modena, working on one of Southern Europe’s largest cultural centers: the Sant’Agostino Complex. It features a movable, origami-inspired roof designed in collaboration with my Harvard colleague Chuck Hoberman.
And while I enjoy the energy of this Biennale Architettura this summer, I am also sketching out ideas for what comes next!
For the first time, the Exhibition features over 300 contributions from more than 750 participants: architects and engineers, mathematicians and climate scientists, philosophers and artists, cooks and coders, writers and carvers, farmers and fashion designers, and many others. You said that in these times of adaptation, architecture must rethink authorship and become more inclusive. How do you see the relationships between architecture and our discipline of education on human rights and democracy and also with the academic research in the field? And in particular, in the Exhibition you had curated?
Architecture today is about much more than buildings – it is about shaping how we live together. At this Biennale, we champion what I call polyphonic authorship: multiple voices working together. It is a call for architects to become listeners—a surprisingly difficult task! This approach strongly echoes the values of human rights and democratic education. Both demand inclusive, participatory processes.
You cared for generating a foundational reflection, study and debate for the near future. In your opinion what will be the most important challenges we will need to address in the near future and how human rights defenders, activists and professionals of our network could contribute?
Climate adaptation is at the top of the list – but it is not just a scientific or technical challenge. It is deeply connected to both human and planetary rights. I believe your global network can play a vital role, especially in protecting the rights of climate refugees, who are among the most vulnerable groups on the planet.
There is also a powerful conversation emerging around granting rights to non-human entities: rivers, forests, and entire ecosystems. This raises legal and ethical questions, and it is an area where the insights of human rights scholars could be incredibly valuable.
Any particular causes that you have in your heart also for the activities of your non-profit Foundation for Architecture?
We launched the Foundation for Architecture (FFA) to support the Biennale Architettura 2025 – and especially its most experimental dimensions. One of a curator’s lesser-known tasks is fundraising, and FFA played a key role in enabling what we referred to as our “special projects.”
Now that we have this vehicle, we are looking ahead. Together with our advisory board, we are exploring how the FFA can support experimental and temporary architecture more generally. These are fields that often struggle to access traditional funding channels, yet are rich with potential for innovation and impact.
Could you give a message to students, professors, partners and staff of our more than 100 Universities of our academic network of the Global Campus of Human Rights?
Even in today’s challenging global context, I believe optimism is essential. The philosopher Karl Popper said that “optimism is a duty.” Why? Because the future is not set in stone, it depends on us. It is our responsibility to shape it for the better, starting with the design of the places and communities we inhabit.
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