Malighetti Laura Elisabetta

Architect and PhD in Building Engineering, Laura Elisabetta Malighetti is an Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering at the ABC Department of Politecnico di Milano. Her scientific work focuses on the definition of integrated and multiscalar strategies and tools for the functional and technological refurbishment of the existing building heritage, with particular attention to the use of bioclimatic technologies and biobased materials. She develops research and projects for the regeneration of small town villages and local ecosystems from a circular economy perspective, following an approach grounded in environmental sustainability and technological innovation.
In these fields, she has participated in nationally funded research and European research projects, and has also carried out consultancy activities for public and private institutions. She is the author of books and articles published in scientific journals.
She teaches the course “Building Refurbishment and Conservation” (Single-cycle M.Sc. Degree in Building Engineering/Architecture) and the course “Fundamentals of Building Construction and space planning” (B.Sc. Degree in Building and Construction Engineering) at the School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering of the Politecnico di Milano, where she has supervised numerous theses awarded by distinguished public and private institutions.
She has served as scientific consultant for the journals Spazio e Società and Arketipo. She is the Head of the Single-Cycle (5 years) Master Programme in Building Engineering/Architecture at the AUIC School of the Politecnico di Milano. She is a member of the PhD Board in “Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering” (ABC-PhD), ABC Department. She is the Scientific Director of the RE³ Lab – REfurbishment, REgeneration and circular REsources for Rural Environments.

Career

M.Sc. in Architecture cum laude, Politecnico di Milano (1997)
Ph.D. in Building Engineering, DISET Dept, Politecnico di Milano (2002)

Research

The scientific and research activities can be outlined in the following main branches:

• integrated/multiscale strategies and solutions for the regeneration of the built environment;
• innovative and bioclimatic technologies for the renovation of existing buildings;
• development of new building materials and components in a circular economy perspective;
• design tools for the assessment of flexibility, resilience and sustainability in terms of building typology and technology.
  

Selected Publications

Author of 152 publications: 5 (+1) books, 2 books as editor, 16 book chapters, 95 journal articles, 36 papers at conferences and other minor editorial products (update: 27.02.2026).

1. M. Grecchi, L.E. Malighetti, A. Colucci, F. Speciale (2025), Reinventing mountain and rural villages. From criticality to resource: strategies for regeneration in the perspective of a circular economy, Springer, ISBN 978-3-031-84764-6. DOI 10.1007/978-3-031-84764-6.
2. O.B. Carcassi, G. Habert, L.E. Malighetti, F. Pittau (2022), “Material Diets for Climate-Neutral Construction”, Enviromental Science and Technology, 56 (8), pp. 5213-5223, ISSN 0013936X. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05895. Scopus: 2-s2.0-85128215362.
3. A. Augello, O.B. Carcassi, F. Pittau, L.E. Malighetti, E. De Angelis (2022), “Closing the loop of textile: Circular building renovation with novel recycled insulations from wasted clothes”, in Proceedings Book of Central Europe towards Sustainable Building 2022 (CESB22), 04-06 July 2022, Prague, Czech Republic, Czech Technical University in Prague Publisher, pp. 203-209. ISBN 978-80-01-07096-3. DOI: 10.14311/APP.2022.38.0203. Scopus: 2-s2.0-85159958126.
4. O.B. Carcassi, I. Paoletti, L.E. Malighetti (2021), “Reasoned catalogue of biogenic products in Europe. An anticipatory vision between technical potentials and availability/ Catalogo ragionato dei prodotti biogenici in Europa. Una visione anticipatoria tra potenzialità tecniche e disponibilità”, Techne - Journal of Technology for Architecture and Environment, Firenze University Press, Firenze, n. 22, pp. 63-70, ISSN 22390243. DOI10.36253/techne-10578. Scopus: 2-s2.0-85119910364.
5. O.B. Carcassi, E. De Angelis, G. Iannaccone, L.E. Malighetti, G. Masera, F. Pittau (2020), Bio-Based Materials for the Italian Construction Industry: Buildings as Carbon Sponges, in S. Della Torre, S. Cattaneo, C. Lenzi, A. Zanelli (editors), Regeneration of the Built Environment from a Circular Economy Perspective, Research for Development, Springer, pp. 237-247, ISBN 978-3-030-33256-3, 978-3-030-33255-6. DOI 10.1007/978-3-030-33256-3_23. Scopus: 2-s2.0-85077443268.
6. F. Pittau, D. Giacomel, G. Iannaccone, L.E. Malighetti (2020), “Environmental consequences of refurbishment versus demolition and reconstruction: a comparative life cycle assessment of an italian case study”, Journal of Green Building, vol 15 (4), pp. 155-172, ISSN 15526100. DOI:10.3992/jgb.15.4.155. Scopus: 2-s2.0-85097567359
7. G. Salvalai, L.E. Malighetti, L. Luchini, S. Girola (2017), “Analysis of different energy conservation strategies on existing school buildings in a Pre-Alpine Region”, Energy and Buildings, vol. 145, pp. 92-106, ISSN 0378-7788, DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.03.058. Scopus: s2.0-85017464432.
8. F. Pittau, L.E. Malighetti, G. Iannaccone, G. Masera (2017), “Prefabrication as large-scale efficient strategy for the energy retrofit of the housing stock: an Italian case study”, in Procedia Engineering, vol. 180, pp. 1160-1169. ISSN: 1877-7058. DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2017.04.276. Scopus: 2-s2.0-85020537533.
9. L.E. Malighetti (2016), “Methodologies and strategies for small town centres regeneration. Architecture between tradition and innovation: the Swiss architects case study of Wespi de Mueron Romeo Architetti /Metodi e strategie per il recupero nuclei storici minori. Architettura tra tradizione e innovazione: il caso Svizzero di Wespi de Mueron Romeo Architetti”, Techne - Journal of Technology for Architecture and Environment, Firenze University Press, Firenze, n. 12, pp. 112-121, ISBN 2239-0243. DOI: 10.13128/Techne-19342. Scopus: s2.0-84999293084
10. L.E. Malighetti (2011), Recupero Edilizio. Strategie per il riuso e tecnologie Costruttive, Il Sole 24 Ore, Milan, ISBN 978-88-324-7780-1.
    

Premi e riconoscimenti / Grants, awards and Honours

2024 Saint Gobain Architecture Student Contest Award 2024 Italian Stage - First prize winner. Team members (students): B. Mura, E. Tomatis and M. Cislaghi. Supervisor: L.E. Malighetti.
2006 Eurosolar Italia Award, kindergarten Via Brivio, Milano (PI E. Zambelli).
1998 Best thesis about Building Technology - Politecnico di Milano.

Community Service

Head of the Single-Cycle (5 years) Master Programme in Building Engineering/Architecture, School of Architecture, Urban Planning and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano (2021-to date).

Member of the Education Board, ABC Dept, Politecnico di Milano (2021-to date).

Member of the School Board, School of Architecture Urban Planning and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano (2021-to date).

Member of the Reference Council - Lecco Campus, Politecnico di Milano (2021-to date).

Member of the Board of the ABC Ph.D. Programme in Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano (2017-to date).

Member of the Scientific Board of the Politecnico Milano Libraries, Lecco Campus Delegate (2024-to date).

Member of the Sustainability Working Group “Behavior Change”- Politecnico di Milano. Rectoral Committee to promote the culture of sustainable development in Politecnico di Milano institutional activities, ABC Dept delegate (2023- 2025).

Member of the International External Evaluation Committee (EEC) on behalf of Cyprus Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA). Evaluation of BSc, MSc and PhD courses at Frederick University, University of Cyprus and University od Nicosia (2019-2021-2026).

Member of the Scientific Committee of Architects Association Foundation ‐ FOA (Milan) for the development of the profession of architect (2018-2021).

Member of VIVI.Polimi Working Group, Rectoral Committee to increase the built environment quality of the Campus, Politecnico di Milano (2017-2022).

Scientific Director of the Working Group on the topic “Strategies for adaptation and resilience of mountain territories comparison and co‐design path” in collaboration with Municipality of Lecco, Lecco Chamber of Commerce and REsilienceLAB, Politecnico di Milano – Polo Territoriale di Lecco.