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Overview

This website the outcomes of the research PNRR Tech4You “Climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban areas: infrastructure green and blue infrastructure for the resilient city,” carried out at the DIUSS (Dipartimento per l'Innovazione Umanistica, Scientifica e Sociale, formerly DiCEM) of the University of Basilicata by B.Andaloro, under the scientific coordination of Prof. I.Macaione. The research aims to develop climate adaptation strategies through Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for urban regeneration, investigating their contribution for urban streetscapes. In addition, the research focuses on the pilot project La Martella neighbourhood in Matera, where some of these explorations are envisioned.

Who are we?

The NatureCityLAB research unit, founded by Prof. A. Sichenze in 2000, and today coordinated by Prof. I. Macaione (DIUSS, University of Basilicata), investigates contemporary issues through architectural design. It integrates the research activities of the members of the ICAR/14 scientific-disciplinary sector, transdisciplinary and multi-scalar research is conducted in the fields of architectural, urban, and landscape design, involving environmental/ecological and social/cultural sustainability. The three main lines of investigation relate to:

the street as an activator of transformations;
schools as community living labs;
climate change adaptation project.

Specifically, and with the occasion of the Tech4You research project, NatureCityLAB explores the role of urban street interstitial spaces as catalysts for new climate adaptation strategies: this is the core theme of a research line investigated since 2014 through research-action's activities and programme. Fare Strada explored the concept of Nature-City, focusing on the ecological transformation of cities through the definition of a narrative representation that shifts the center of the action from the city to the urban landscape.

Through an approach that integrates theoretical research and design experimentation, the potential of punctual and at the same time systemic interventions are investigated, capable of activating environmental and social regeneration processes, starting from the integration of green and blue infrastructures in the urban context of streetscapes. As a mediator between ecological dynamics and social demands, architecture is configured in its ability to operate at multiple scales and to intersect different knowledge.

NatureCityLAB's action-research aims then to imagine future scenarios in which adaptation is not just a necessity, but an opportunity to rethink the city as an integrated and inclusive ecosystem.

NatureCityLAB is proud to have many collaborations around the world, from Italy to Canada, passing by the Netherlands and the United Kingdom!

This project has been developed by:

Prof. Arch., Ina Macaione, LinkedIn profile here
dr. Arch., Bianca Andaloro, LinkedIn profile here
dr. Arch., Alessandro Raffa, LinkedIn profile here

As our research group continues to grow and evolve, we would like to thank all the people who have, in different ways and at various levels, indirectly contributed to this project—through inspiring conversations, lectures, workshops, and shared insights.

Among them, dr. Luigi Pintacuda (UH), dr. Davide Pisu (UH), Arch. Giuseppina Giuffrida (UH), dr. Antonio Minutella (Edizioni Arianna), dr. Vera Autilio (City of Toronto), Phd student Arch. Enrica Gaia Consiglio (UniPa), Arch. Giovanna Izzi, the DIUSS Architecture students from Design studio 2024/25, 2025/26, the DIUSS Architecture students of the Graduation Studio 2024/25, the colleagues of UNIBAS and AbitaLAB, the architecture studios who have agreed on contributing with their contents and thoughts, and the Studio of Will Neeteson.

Tech4You

This website has been developed within the activities of Next Generation UE – PNRR Tech4You Project funds assigned to University of Basilicata "Technologies for resilient and accessible cultural and natural heritage", Spoke 4 (scientific resp.: F. Mirizzi), Goal 3 (scientific resp.: N. Surname), Pilot Project 1 (scientific resp.: Mariavaleria Mininni) "Green Shapes for the Urban-Regeneration Processes, Environmental, Social, Cultural and Tourism Sustainability", and specifically in the field of intervention Action 1 "Climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban areas: infrastructure green and blue infrastructure for the resilient city" (scientific resp.: Ina Macaione).

The contents and the products of this work have been coordinated by Prof. Arch. Ina Macaione, and developed by dr. Arch. Bianca Andaloro. This T4U research has also benefitted by the contribution of dr. Arch. Alessandro Raffa, within the researches "Urban Green Shape" (2022-2025), funded by PON R&I and FSE-REACT-EU. PON "Research & Innovation" 2014-2020, Asse IV "Istruzione e ricerca per il recupero" – Azione IV.4 – "Dottorati e contratti di ricerca su tematiche dell'innovazione" e Azione IV.6 – "Contratti di ricerca su tematiche Green" and FSE-REACT-EU.

T4U: Code ECS00000 009 – CUP C43C22000400006