Special Sessions

Sustainable Architecture:

Bio-Based Materials and Beyond

Chairs: Ena Lloret-Fritschi (Accademia di architettura, USI), Sevgi Altun (Accademia di architettura, USI), Prof. Stefano Zerbi (SUPSI). Co-Chairs: Antonio Caggiano (University of Genoa, Italy), Gonzalo Barluenga (University of Alcala, Spain), Romildo Dias Toledo Filho (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Eddie Koenders (TU Darmstadt, Germany).

This special session explores advancements in sustainable construction through alternative materials, digital technologies, and bio-based solutions.

  • Alternative Materials & Optimization: Strategies for reducing material consumption through unconventional materials and efficient design, addressing challenges in building codes, time constraints, and durability.
  • Digital Technologies in AEC: Integration of digital design and fabrication methods to enhance sustainability and innovation in construction.
  • Bio-Based & Carbon-Neutral Materials: Investigating the use of plant components, agricultural by-products, and earth-based components in mortars and concretes, including bio-aggregates and self-healing cementitious systems.
  • Net-Zero Energy Strategies: Developing energy-efficient materials and structures to achieve carbon neutrality in buildings.

Special Highlights: International Research, Dissemination from wider EU consortia and EU-funded projects are welcomed. In this sense, the results from the EU-funded project “Bio-based Energy efficient Materials and Structures for Tomorrow” (BEST, HE-MSCA-SE-2021, 101086440, https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101086440/), will be disseminated during the session.

Immovable Cultural Heritage:

Conservation of Immovable Cultural Heritage

Chairs: Marta Caroselli (SUPSI, Switzerland), Chiara Pasian (Department of Conservation, University of Gothenburg, Sweden) Francesca Piqué (SUPSI, Switzerland) and Maria Stefanidou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Civil Engineering, Greece)

This special session is designed to foster dialogue among researchers working on immovable cultural heritage preservation: buildings, monuments and sites.

The session has two themes:

  1. Non-Invasive/Non-Destructive Investigations: Advancements in analytical techniques for cultural heritage studies emphasize minimally or entirely non-invasive methods. Over the past decade, progress has been made in non-destructive (NDT) and minimally destructive (MDT) tools. These technologies provide data on material composition, physical and chemical properties of building structures, supporting diagnostic investigations and regular inspections for monitoring conditions over time.
  2. Conservation and Maintenance of Cultural Significance: Research on the evaluation of past and current conservation treatments and materials of immovable cultural heritage (made with natural and artificial stones, mortars, wall paintings, etc.).

Proposals should focus on material characterization, analysis of deterioration mechanisms, development of conservation methods, and monitoring and maintenance plans.
This session aims to be a platorm for scholars to share insights, methodologies, and recent findings. Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, the goal is not only showcasing advancements in analytical techniques but also to promote the exchange of knowledge and the development of effective strategies that contribute to the conservation of immovable cultural heritage.