In June 2024, Politecnico di Milano and Xi’an Jiaotong University established the Sino-Italian Joint Laboratory for Sustainable Urban and Rural Heritage Conservation and Regeneration in Xi’an, within the framework of the Joint School of Design and Innovation.
The main objective of the laboratory, which has been approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education, is to address the global challenges of enhancing and regenerating cultural, urban, and rural heritage by promoting sustainable, interdisciplinary, and innovation-driven methodological and technological approaches.
Mission
The mission of the Joint Lab is to design, develop, and test methods and tools for the sustainable regeneration and enhancement of urban and rural heritage, by integrating:
- Multidisciplinary academic research
- Digital technologies (HBIM, GIS, AI)
- The development of sustainable regeneration strategies for historic villages
- The integration of cultural, environmental, and social values in planning
- The construction of replicable models for academic-institutional cooperation
Main Activities
- Research: Joint projects focusing on innovative methodologies for heritage regeneration and rehabilitation.
- Education: Educational programs and seminars.
- Collaboration: Partnerships with local and international institutions.
Team
Prof. Zhai Binqing | P.I. Xi’an Jiaotong University
Prof. Ilaria Valente | P.I. Politencnico di Milano
Project Management
Prof. Barbara Galli | Project Manager | DABC
Prof. Gerardo Semprebon | Project Manager | DAStU
Prof. Daniele Villa | Project Manager | DAStU
Researchers and Collaborators
Lorenzo Ceccon (DAStU), Anna Dalla Valle (DABC), Zachary M. Jones (DAStU), Angelo Lorenzi (DABC), Maria Cristina Loi (DABC), Maurizio Meriggi (DAStU), Gianfranco Orsenigo (DAStU), Marco Patruno (DAStU), Pierluigi Salvadeo (DAStU), Gerardo Semprebon (DAStU), Luigi Spinelli (DAStU), Erica Ventura (DAStU), Salvatore Viscuso (DABC)
Events
12–14 June 2025
First International Conference on the Sustainable Conservation and Regeneration of Historic Urban and Rural Heritage | ICRSE 2025
Xi’an – iHarbour Innovation Campus
21 April 2025
Joint field mission – Baishe Village
Site visits to the historic Baishe Village aimed at analyzing local cultural heritage and defining enhancement strategies through sustainable tourism.
November–December 2024
Joint field mission – Shaanxi
Site visits to the historic villages of Yunzhen, Fenghuang, Judge Temple, and Manchuanguan Town, aimed at analyzing local cultural heritage and defining enhancement strategies through sustainable tourism.
27 November 2024
First Academic Seminar – Milan / Xi’an
Inaugural joint meeting between Chinese and Italian partners, with presentations of pilot projects and discussions on the strategic themes of the Joint Lab.