La filosofia nell'ambiente costruito: concetti, metodi, impatti

15 December 2025 – 9:00 AM
Training Room, Basement Floor, Building 15

The design and assessment of the built environment rely on a wide range of concepts and ideals: promoting well-being and health, improving the sustainability and inclusiveness of buildings, and preserving the historical value of built heritage. But how can these concepts be precisely defined? What epistemological challenges arise when attempting to scientifically measure such values? And how can social impact and ethical considerations be integrated?

These questions open up a largely unexplored space for dialogue between built-environment research and philosophical reflection. The event aims to foster this exchange by offering interdisciplinary perspectives and case studies.

Programme

09:00 – Participant Registration

09:15 – Introduction
Stefano Capolongo, Director of the ABC Department

09:30 – 10:30 – Roundtable

Thomas Bonnin
Philosopher of science and postdoctoral researcher (META Initiative), ABC Department
Thomas Bonnin will present his philosophical approach to architectural research, focused on the epistemological foundations of the ethical aspects of science. His work analyses how conceptual and methodological choices shape the possibility of translating scientific knowledge into socially relevant practices.

Maddalena Buffoli
Architect and Associate Professor, Design&Health group, ABC Department
Through two case studies developed within the Design&Health group, Maddalena Buffoli will explore opportunities for interdisciplinary cross-fertilisation between philosophy and architecture. The first concerns an analysis of the methodological framework of Evidence-Based Design, with particular attention to balancing contextual knowledge and general knowledge in spatial design. The second offers a reflection on the strategic definition of key concepts, both within and outside the group, such as social health, inclusivity, and green spaces.

Laura Menatti
Philosopher of science and associate researcher at the Institut d’Histoire et de Philosophie des Sciences et des Techniques, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Laura Menatti has developed an international research agenda that brings philosophy into dialogue with disciplines such as psychology, architecture, and medicine—fields traditionally kept separate—in which philosophy acts as a mediating force. Her work on the concepts of landscape and environment integrates contributions from psychology, philosophy, and public health.

10:30 – 11:00 – Discussion and Q&A

11:00 – Closing Remarks