Carlo Ratti loves cities and the built environment. Ranked as one of the top ten most cited scholars in urban planning and a leading designer in America, he focuses on intelligent systems and the convergence of the natural and artificial worlds. Recently appointed curator of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, he aims to promote a public debate on our urban habitat, starting with his work at the intersection of academic research, innovative design and start-up entrepreneurship.
Biophilia in architecture – the helpful approach to well-being and sustainability
How would you describe your work approach in a few words?
Using design to bridge the disconnect between the natural and the artificial world.
What is your main source of inspiration?
I often go back to a line by Shakespeare: “What is a city but the people?” Digital technologies have impacted our living environment tremendously in many different ways. Yet, as the end users of all kinds of urban interventions and innovations, citizens should always be the starting point for our work.
Artribune
What are the biggest challenges you have met in your career?
COVID-19 was a recent challenge that put a major strain on our work. The first wave of the pandemic spread very fast across northern Italy, where one of our main offices is based. We were forced to work remotely during the lockdown, which was not easy for us to prepare sketches and designs. But like what former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel once said, “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste,” we were determined to use our skills to help improve the situation.
Ultimately, we managed to form a “task force” with engineers, doctors, military experts, NGOs, and other consultants to develop mobile, fully-equipped ICUs out of shipping containers, in order to allow hospitals to increase their capacity in a matter of hours. The first prototype was constructed in just a few weeks and immediately put into use at a temporary hospital in Italy, while our open-source drawings were used as blueprints for many initiatives across the world.
The first prototype of A.I. Timber
What about your next project?
There are many projects in the pipeline! Let me tell you about a couple of them I am particularly excited about:
First, along with architect Italo Rota and urbanist Ricky Burdett, we have recently finalized the masterplan for Rome’s bid to host the World Expo 2030. It would feature the world’s largest urban energy farm accessible to the public, supported by hundreds of tree-shaped structures to harvest sunlight. Beyond making the whole Expo energy independent, the system can also power the surrounding neighborhood post-event, so that citizens can benefit in the long run.
Further North, we are working on an energy infrastructure project called Hot Heart. Our proposal was a winner of the “moonshot” competition held by the Municipality of Helsinki to make the city’s district heating system carbon-neutral by 2030. The idea involves a set of 10 giant offshore reservoirs, storing the excess heat generated from renewable sources when prices are low. During the winter months, the heat can be withdrawn to warm the city sustainably through its existing district heating network.
Tree Path
What is the message you want to send, and what kind of people are you referring to?
My message would be for my colleagues in the design, architecture and planning fields: cross-background and cross-discipline collaboration is our only hope to tackle the global-scale challenges we are facing today. Instead of maintaining a narrow-minded, Promethean attitude as in 20th century architecture, we should collaborate. I believe that the future belongs to what we called “choral architects” in our book Open Source Architecture – professionals able to harmonize different voices and synthesize different perspectives for the good of humanity!
Portrait Carlo Ratti