Research, Innovation, Sustainability

Designing in a new direction means taking into account the extraordinary language of surface design. Only by working along this trajectory will new design languages emerge. Naturally, innovation cannot exist without considering sustainability-related parameters: the value of the circular economy, recycling, and end-of-life processes, to name just a few.

The discussion features: 

• Antonio De Antonis, President of AIPI and Vice President of EIDD Design for All

Surface as Experience: Design, Inclusion and Well-being

Materials and surfaces are not merely the skin of a space; they represent the first interface between architecture and people. Drawing on AIPI’s professional perspective and the international Design for All approach, this presentation explores how visual, tactile, and perceptual qualities can contribute to orientation, comfort, safety, and accessibility. When aesthetics, performance, and inclusion are integrated from the very beginning of the design process, the surface becomes a powerful tool for enhancing the experience and quality of spaces for the widest possible diversity of people.

• Marina Cella, Architect, External Reference

The presentation will explore a specific area of biomaterials (green ceramics) through the Closing Circle Beauty project, which Marina Cella is developing at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), where she teaches. The project rethinks production processes through the use of common tools and non-toxic materials, documenting each protocol as an open system—reproducible, adaptable, and scalable—while shifting the focus from collaborative consumption to collaborative production. The initiative involves the creation of biodegradable cladding materials derived from agri-food waste, such as mussel shells, eggshells, and coffee grounds. Materials traditionally regarded as waste are transformed into surfaces for interaction and vehicles for environmental narratives.

• Giacomo Geroldi, Project Director, Park Associati

The presentation will focus on Park Associati’s design approach, an interdisciplinary collective based in Milan, with particular attention to Park Materials, the department dedicated to the research, analysis, and selection of innovative and sustainable materials for architecture and interior design. Through ongoing experimentation, the department promotes solutions that address aesthetic, functional, and environmental requirements, supporting project teams in the development of conscious architecture that is responsive to both present and future challenges. At the heart of this activity is the firm’s Materials Library (Materioteca), a constantly evolving physical and digital resource that collects, updates, and makes accessible materials and innovations, enabling more informed and sustainable design decisions.

Click here for the Italian version: Ricerca, Innovazione, Sostenibilità