This paper seeks to remark the importance of sustainable technologies in the façade renewal of existing buildings in order to fit their energetic performance to different climatic inputs, following the new European Energy Standards for energy savings. Technical data and typical examples of upgrading interventions in the direction of the passive solar gaining, natural cooling and other relevant sustainable technologies for building envelopes are presented and critically examined. The energy failure in existing buildings is mainly due to the poor insulating efficiency of the façades. Making use of hi-tech envelopes, not only the energetic balance, but also the architectural value of a building can be improved. Architects and builders can use the advices from this study in determining the advantages of up-to-date technologies in the enhancement of the energetic performance of build-ings. Examples presented in this paper indicates how sustainable technologies, that are commonly used in new constructions where the concept starts from a low environmental impact, can be also employed in the refurbishment of existing buildings, which is the main challenge for the global reduction of CO2. An overview on the main technical of intervention can indicate to architects and planners the potentiality for the improvement of the existing buildings, in order to reduce the overall energy balance

This paper provides an introduction to the aims of the EU Villas project (Interreg IIIB Cadses 2000-2006). It entails the improvement and revitalisation of the aesthetic and economic aspects of architectural heritage by creating an evaluation model and defining a compatible strategic tool for re-use, in keeping with the planning criteria and sustainable policies of the CADSES area. The European countries involved in this research project are developing common strategies to preserve and exploit their environmental and building heritage and to implement cultural-tourism activities. Specific tools have been developed in order to assess and valorise the aesthetic and economic aspects of architectural heritage, taking into account each country's peculiarities (specific problems, users, regulations, etc). Our research group at the University of Ferrara, Department of Architecture, is studying rural buildings in Emilia Romagna that are insufficiently valorised. The preservation of this heritage can be achieved through economic re-use and the definition of integrated strategies ranging from land planning to sustainable refurbishment techniques. These strategies are presented in this paper.

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Abstract:The aim of this paper is to assess the use of an intelligent glass envelope in the refurbishment of existing buildings in Italy in order to fit their energetic performance considering Mediterranean climate inputs. With the new European and Italian regulations on energy efficiency of buildings, envelopes are not only forced to respect heat transmission limits (e.g. U value) and to improve their thermal insulation, but also to use and receive benefits from environmental input such as passive solar gains. Comparing to the North European solutions, a glass envelope seems not to be the most suitable solution for a Mediterranean climate, mainly due to the great incidence of solar gains and the risks of overheating during summer season. Examples presented in this paper indicates how double skin glass façades, that are commonly used in new constructions where the concept starts from a low environmental impact, can be also employed in the refurbishment of existing buildings, which is the main challenge for the global reduction of CO 2 . An overview on the main technical of intervention can indicate to architects and planners the weakness/strength points to take in consideration in the use of a double layer glass façade in a Mediterranean climate in order to reduce the overall energy balance.

The access to basic healthcare for people who are not registered in the national health system is nowadays a very urgent problem, both in Italy and in the rest of the world. Immigration and poverty are only some of the factors that make one of the primary rights of humanity—healthcare—not a right for everyone. The main problems, which have grown exponentially in the last decade, are at operational level, due to the lack of personnel (mostly volunteers) and the lack of spaces. This paper illustrates procedures and techniques for the design of a small emergency structure that can be moved and positioned in urban contexts. The first part consists of a deep analysis of the problem and of the state of the art of existing typologies. The second part is dedicated to the conceptual framework (requirements, conceptual model) and to the definition of the preliminary design for the new approach to basic non-conventional sanitary spaces. Finally, a virtual case study (project application) in Italy is presented.