Research.

Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR)

University of Palermo, Department of Architecture

Postdoctoral fellowship awarded through a competitive selection based on qualifications and examinations. Research: ‘From the Architecture of Human Settlements to the Infrastructure System: Interpretation and Design of the Sicilian Landscape between Imera and Akragas’.

University of Palermo, Department of Architectural History and Design, under joint doctoral supervision with the Polytechnic University of Madrid, ETSAM. Doctoral studies presented in section B1.

National doctoral research scholarship awarded through a competitive selection based on application materials and examinations.

Research on the INA-Casa complex of Villaggio Santa Rosalia in Palermo and its comparison with the San Cristóbal de los Ángeles district in Madrid. Supervisors: Tilde Marra and Luis Moya González.

Doctorate with Doctor Europæus certification. Final assessment: excellent.

The Doctor Europæus certification supplements the doctoral degree and recognises the European dimension of the research undertaken.

Since July 2026, Laboratoire Æ — Architectural Design for Built Heritage, a research laboratory at the School of Architecture, Université Laval (founded in July 2026). Co-founder and head (with Prof. François Dufaux). – Scientific programme finalised in August 2026: a grammar of the relationships between design and existing buildings, subtraction as a criterion, an international atlas of redrawn precedents, a Québec corpus (Québec City architects, 1920–1960, Robert Blatter, the Italian Pavilion at Expo 67); the know–interpret–design method; a framework for the Reading–Interpretation–Design approach in the studios of the Heritage and Cultural Landscape concentration.

Since July 2026 — Institut des matériaux durables (IMD), Université Laval.

Regular member.

From September 2025 – CRIB Research Centre on Concrete Infrastructure – Université Laval

Deputy Director

2021 – Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism (MiBACT)

Design, research and preparation of a large-scale exhibition within the Villa Adriana archaeological park entitled De Architettura: Villa Adriana, Autonomous Institute Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este, Villa Adriana, Tivoli (Rome), Italy.

Member of the research group

2018–2021 — Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism (MiBACT)

Permanent research group entitled Green Table, comprising representatives of the various bodies of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and universities involved in the maintenance, restoration and enhancement of historic gardens. Member of the research group responsible for the historic garden of Villa d’Este. Technical and scientific research on conserving the plant heritage of historic parks and gardens, with particular attention to preventive maintenance, management and communication of their cultural, natural and landscape value.

Member of the research group

2018–2020 – Research project entitled The European Route of Historic Gardens, with a research group established by several European public and private bodies and universities to submit routes linking historic gardens and World Heritage gardens for Council of Europe certification. Member of the research group responsible for the historic garden of Villa d’Este.

The European Route of Historic Gardens (ERHG) was certified as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in October 2020. https://www.europeanhistoricgardens.eu/en/membership

Member of the research group

2013 to 2015 – Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR), University of Palermo, Master’s Degree in Building Engineering–Architecture, Final Architecture Studio, entitled Environment, Nature, Architecture: Projects on the Platani. Research group leader: Prof. A. Margagliotta; research group faculty: Profs. Rossella Corrao, D. Costantino, G. Palazzo, F. Sedia

2007–2012 – Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) – University of Palermo, Master’s Degree in Architecture, final architecture studio, entitled:

SynthLab Waterfront Hinterland. The Project for South-East Palermo

SynthLab Urban project for Cefalù

Research group leader: Marcello Panzarella; research group members: Ivana Elmo, Santo Giunta, Francesco Leto, Maria Eliana Madonia, Luigi Piazza, Luigi Pintacuda, Fabio Sedia

2010–2015 – Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) – University of Palermo, Master’s Degree in Architecture, final architecture studio entitled Projects for the Historic Centre of Palermo. Research group leader: Giovanni Francesco Tuzzolino. Member of the research group

Since 2025 – KALÓS. Rivista di arti e culture, Palermo. Serie ἀpeirógonos. ISSN 1827-8671. Scientific committee member. Contributions to editorial direction and occasional article reviews.

2018–2025 – Ministry of Culture (MiC) / UNESCO World Heritage Centre, UNESCO Management Plan for Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este.

Member of the scientific committee

Ministry of Culture (MiC), Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este Institutes.

Member of the scientific committee.

Ministry of Culture (MiC). Green Working Group.

Ministerial technical and scientific working group on conserving the plant heritage of historic parks and gardens, with particular attention to preventive maintenance, management and communication of their cultural, natural and landscape value.

Technical committee member.

2011 to 2015 – E.JOURNAL / Palermo architecture, online magazine.

Director, Prof. Marcello Panzarella (18 issues), ISSN 2282-2674

Scientific direction: G. Chiaramente, M. Cometa, M. Cannatà, F. Fernades.

Member of the scientific and editorial board

Upcoming — POLITECNICO DI MILANO, DAStU — Dipartimento di Architettura e Studi Urbani, Milan, Italy
Status: visiting professor and researcher (MAECI mobility grant, Italian Government)
Period: 14 to 23 October 2026

Planned activities: teaching in Orsina Simona Pierini’s course on theory and criticism of contemporary design, design reviews in Laboratorio di Progettazione 3, a seminar on Milanese houses and archival research on modern heritage.

UNIVERSITY OF GENOA — DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
Visiting researcher, co-funded position awarded through the first call of 2026.

Stay planned for May and June 2027.

Planned activities: research on modern heritage and adaptive reuse, seminars and scholarly exchanges.

UNIVERSITY OF PALERMO – DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE (DARCH)
Visiting professor and researcher. Academic activities from 25 March to 3 April 2025, as part of the research stay in March and April 2025. Lectures, seminars, design reviews, occasional supervision and scholarly exchanges.

UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE MADRID, ETSAM Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Madrid, Spain
Status: visiting professor
Period: 5–12 June 2024
Key activities: participation in the doctoral jury ‘3S Confluencias tesis en curso’ and the graduation project jury for Honours Diplomas; assessment and methodological feedback for doctoral candidates and students

SAPIENZA UNIVERSITÀ DI ROMA, Faculty of Architecture, Rome, Italy
Status: visiting professor
Period: 17 June 2024
Key activities: jury member for final reviews in the master’s design studio; assessment and discussion of design proposals with faculty members

UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE MADRID (UPM) – Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (ETSAM)

Research related to the development of the doctoral thesis, Prof. Arch. Luis Moya. From 1 March to 31 August 2006 (six months) and from 1 March to 31 August 2007 (six months)

UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL, SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, Québec, Canada

Status: visiting professor
Periods: 1–30 April 2022, 1 September–31 December 2022, 1 January–30 April 2023

CANADA

This section presents the projects undertaken since I joined the School of Architecture of Université Laval, with Canadian and international partners. Funding awarded, applications under review and projects in preparation are identified separately. Amounts for collaborative projects refer to their total budgets.

Grants and support awarded

2026 – Mitacs Globalink Research Internship. Project “Modern Housing in Québec (1945–1975). Documentation, Critical Analysis and Representation”. Academic lead for the selected project, scheduled to host three international undergraduate interns for twelve weeks beginning on 2 May 2027.

2026-2029 – NSERC, Alliance Grants. Project: Implementation of a Performance Framework and Experimental Validation of Lime Render Systems for Built Heritage in Northern Climates. Role: co-applicant and lead for the heritage component. Application resubmitted in February 2026; grant awarded in August 2026.

Total amount: CAD 223,228.

2026 – MAECI — Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Italy). Mobility grant for professors and researchers. Role: grant holder. Research and teaching stay at DAStU, Politecnico di Milano, 14–23 October 2026.

Amount: €2,500

2026–2027 – University of Genoa. Co-funded visiting researcher position, awarded in the first 2026 call. Stay planned for May and June 2027.

Amount: €8,000

2025–2026 – Université Laval, FAAAD, CRSH Exploratory Grants. Project “Architecture in Québec 1900–1980. Knowledge, Interpretation and Initial Reuse Strategies”. Principal investigator.

Amount: CAD 7,000.

2024–2026 – Université Laval, Office of the Vice-Rector for Research, Creation and Innovation (VRRCI). Support for creation, research-creation and innovation in universities, Stream 3: Research-Creation. Tisser Carabane project. Role: co-investigator.

Partners: UNESCO Chair ULaval, CUAD Dakar, Carabane community. Description: A 100 m participatory mural and shade pavilion, on-site workshops and educational and intercultural outcomes, incorporated into the Dakar Biennales in 2024 and 2026.

Total amount: CAD 22,799.90.

2024–2026 – Université Laval. Start-up funding.

Total amount: CAD 20,000.

2024–2026 – Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and internal ULaval funds. Cross-sector partnership for an environmentally responsible transition in care and health-service logistics. Role: co-investigator. SSHRC Partnership Development programme. Co-directed by André Côté and Paolo Landa, with CHU de Québec–Université Laval and CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale.

Total amount: CAD $430,000.

2024–2025 – MITACS Inc., Accelerate Express programme. Parc de l’Exposition de Trois-Rivières, analysis of the infrastructure and architectural features of the 1938 Exhibition. Role: applicant. Description: Archival documentation, typomorphological analysis and 2D and 3D graphic deliverables for the City of Trois-Rivières and heritage partners.

Amount awarded: CAD 10,000.

2024 – Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA). Project “Infrastructure and Modernity. The Expo Park in Trois-Rivières, 1938–2024”. Recipient: Meï-An Hurtubise. Supervising researcher: Fabio Sedia.

Description: Documentary and cartographic research, 2D and 3D drawings, GIS integration and deliverables for municipal and association partners.

Total amount: CA$10,000, including a CA$2,500 supplement from the supervisor.

2025 – Support for a visit to the University of Palermo, Italy. Visit from 23 to 31 March 2025, assessing, at Université Laval’s request, opportunities for collaboration with the University of Palermo under the Horizon Europe programme. Administrative unit: School of Architecture.

Amount awarded: CAD 3,862.

2024–present – Université Laval. Support for university activities.

Amount awarded: CAD 10,057.

2022–2023 – CRSH, Partnership Engage Grants.

Collaborator. Funded project: “Trois-Rivières: Measuring the Forms of Sustainable Urbanism”.

Principal investigator: François Dufaux, School of Architecture, Université Laval.

Grant applications awaiting a decision

2027–2033 – FCI, FAAAD, Université Laval. Project 1:1. Laboratory for Full-Scale Innovation and Research-Creation. Role: co-investigator. Research-creation infrastructure devoted to full-scale architectural experimentation, construction prototypes, reuse, materiality and teaching innovation.

Amount requested: CAD 6,000,000.

2026–2032 – NSERC, Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program (CREATE; FONCER in French). Project ‘RePAIR-CBE: Regenerative Planning, Adaptive Infrastructure, and Circular Economy for Climate-Resilient Built Environments’. Collaborator in the revised version submitted in May 2026; co-investigator in the initial application. Amount requested: CAD 1,650,000, with at least 70% allocated to stipends for highly qualified personnel.

Description: Interdisciplinary programme to train 143 highly qualified people through building retrofit studios, winter and summer schools, and placements, covering BIM and digital twins, structural monitoring, life cycle assessment, and regulatory and financial frameworks. Expected outcomes: transferable tools, datasets and validated rehabilitation solutions. Revised version resubmitted in May 2026; collaborator role in the 2026 version.

2027–2030 – FRQ, Society and Culture sector, Research Support for New Academics. Project “The Modern House in Québec (1929–1970): Precedents, Models and Variations”. Principal investigator. Amount requested: CAD $45,000 over three years, or CAD $15,000 per year.

Application submitted on 6 September 2026 (2027–2028 competition), under review.

Projects in preparation or awaiting submission

Project in preparation – Université Laval, Politecnico di Milano and Italian diplomatic partners in Canada. “Italian Architects in Québec. Experiences, Transfers and Cultural Circulation”. Principal investigator. Funding arrangements in preparation.

Unsuccessful grant applications

2026-2028 – Mitacs Accelerate. Project “Québec’s built heritage. The Irish contribution”. Co-investigator. Amount requested: CAD 12,500 for one research internship. Application not selected.

2026-2028 – SSHRC, Insight Development Grants. Project “Adaptive Reuse of the Modern Heritage of the Province of Quebec, Canada, for Contemporary Housing and Its Relationship with Existing European Models” [Adaptive reuse of Québec’s modern heritage for contemporary housing and links with European models]. Principal investigator. Total amount requested: CA$99,922. Application unsuccessful on 14 July 2026; assessment “Good”, final weighted score 2.87. Ranking: 24th of 35. Resubmission planned for the 2027 competition.

2025–2031 – CRSNG, FONCER programme. RePAIR-CBE project. Co-investigator in the initial application. Amount requested: CAD 1,650,000, with at least 70% allocated to stipends for highly qualified personnel. Application unsuccessful; revised version resubmitted in May 2026.

Description: Interdisciplinary training programme for 143 highly qualified personnel through building retrofit studios, winter and summer schools and internships, incorporating BIM and digital twins, structural monitoring, life-cycle assessment and regulatory and financial frameworks. Expected outcomes: transferable tools, datasets and validated rehabilitation solutions.

2025–2028 – FRQSC, Research Support for New Academics. Role: principal applicant. Application deemed meritorious, not funded. Title: Discourse and Practice of Modernity in Architecture and Urban Planning in Québec. Amount requested: CAD 44,647.

Description: Study of the period 1945–1975, database and online atlas, with applications for the assessment and protection of modernist heritage. Application fully revised and resubmitted on 6 September 2026 under the title The Modern House in Québec (1929–1970): Precedents, Models and Variations.

2025–2027 – NSERC, Alliance Advantage Grants. Role: co-applicant. Application assessed as meritorious, unfunded. Title: Innovative Lime Render Formulations for the Sustainable Conservation of Built Heritage in a Northern Climate. Amount requested: CAD $49,206 per year for three years, totalling CAD $147,618.

Description: Historical study, laboratory and on-site experimentation, technical recommendations and documented mix recipes for Québec’s historic masonry. Revised version resubmitted in February 2026; Alliance grant awarded in August 2026.

ITALY

Funded PRIN programme

The Italian PRIN programme funds research projects of national interest led by university teams.

The following collaborations were carried out within the University of Palermo’s research units.

2013 – Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) – University of Palermo, Department of Architecture, Research Project of National Interest (PRIN) 2012, entitled Recycling Policies and Techniques in Architecture and Urban Infrastructure, local research unit. Member of a local research unit’s team for the national architectural design workshop: the railway decommissioning project between Himera and Castelbuono, scientific coordinator Prof. M. Panzarella; tutors Isabella Daidone, Ivana Elmo, Santo Giunta, Francesco Leto, Maria Eliana Madonia, Luigi Piazza, Luigi Pintacuda, Laura Sciortino, Fabio Sedia (21–28 September 2013)

2012–2013 – Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR), University of Palermo, Department of Architecture. Research group member and postdoctoral researcher. Research Project of National Interest (PRIN) 2009. Research entitled From Settlement Architecture to the Infrastructure System: Interpretation and Design of the Sicilian Landscape between Imera and Akragas (October 2012 to October 2013).

2012 – Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) – University of Palermo, Department of Architecture. Scientific research collaboration on the 2008 Research Project of National Interest (PRIN), Psychiatric Asylum Complexes in Italy between the 19th and 20th Centuries. An Atlas of Historical and Architectural Heritage for Knowledge and Enhancement. Local research unit: Atlas of the Historical and Architectural Heritage of Mental Institutions for Knowledge, Conservation and Reuse: Sicily and Sardinia, coordinated by Prof. Cesare Ajroldi. Research unit team leader for the national architectural design workshop From the Madhouse to the City, scientific coordinator Prof. Zeila Tesoriere (12 July 2012)

2011 – Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) - University of Palermo, Department of Architecture, research collaboration on the 2007 Research Project of National Interest (PRIN), entitled Redevelopment and upgrading of the public housing stock. Guidelines for interventions in innovative IACP neighbourhoods in central and southern Italy, local research unit coordinator Prof. Andrea Sciascia. Member of a research unit, group leader M. E. Madonia, BU.06 Pedestrian and vehicular circulation. Selected public spaces in the Borgo Ulivia-Falsomiele neighbourhood in Palermo.

2005 – Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) – University of Palermo, Department of Architectural History and Design, scientific collaboration on the national research programme, former 60% funding, 2002, principal investigator Prof. Arch. T. Marra, entitled Designing the Periphery: Recovery and Redevelopment of the Villaggio S. Rosalia Social Housing District in Palermo. Research focus: photographic, topographical and architectural surveys, with graphic studies of the condition of the urban built fabric between the railway bridges over the Oreto in Palermo.

2004 – Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) – University of Palermo, Department of Architectural History and Design. Research collaboration on the national research project, ex 60%, year 2004, led by Prof. Arch. T. Marra, entitled Architecture and Urban Design. Reclaiming the Outskirts: Affordable and Social Housing Neighbourhoods along the River Oreto (from Its Mouth to Corleone Bridge) in Palermo.

Since 2026 – Urban Form Press, Quaderni di Morfologia. Member of the series steering committee.

Since 2025 – KALÓS. Rivista di arti e culture, ἀpeirógonos series, Palermo, Italy. ISSN 1827-8671.

Since 2023 – U+D Urbanform and Design. International journal, ISSN 2384-9207.

2011–2015 – E.JOURNAL / Palermo architecture. Online journal, ISSN 2282-2674.

Since 2011 — HipoTesis, Alphabetical Series K. International journal, ISSN 1989-8576.