Toward the “European Design Code aimed at the quality of living environments”
The IN/Arch-National Institute of Architecture-with the patronage of the United States of the World and the Fondazione Mediterraneo-organized on Monday, April 29, 2024 at 3 p.m. at Palazzo Giustiniani, Presidency of the Senate of the Republic-Rome, this meeting to focus on the issue of the quality of design of living environments as a primary interest for the whole community and to demonstrate its concrete influence on sociality, well-being, economy, safety, protection of nature and historical places.
The proposal for a “European Design Code aimed at the quality of living environments” is designed to make concrete some principles of design, building on a human scale and the environment; values, these, widely shared but unfortunately unimplemented, although constantly affirmed in normative and ministerial policy statements. The initiative originated in the event “Seed - Design Action for the Future,” held a year ago in Perugia, one of nine “Architecture Festivals 2023” promoted by the Italian Ministry of Culture. The proposal, which was also discussed in important international public contexts, was presented and brought to the attention of a large gathering of international designers and administrators by the magazine “Le Carré Bleu, feuille internationale d’architecture”.
The quality of design of living environments, besides being fundamental for the development of collective well-being, aims at creating security, sociality, economy and, in fact, involves various aspects of our life: from the identity and cultural vision of a nation to the protection of nature, of man-made places, up to the mental health of users. Every project must concern inhabitants and contexts, urban and natural landscapes together; it must exert its influence on the heritage of the past and contribute to shaping the heritage of the future.
Institutional speeches included those by Andrea Margaritelli, President of the National Institute of Architecture, Angelica Krystle Donati, President of ANCE Giovani, Massimo Crusi, President of CNAPPC National Council of Architects, Planners, Landscapers and Conservators, Elio Masciovecchio, Vice President CNI National Council of Engineers.
Massimo Pica Ciamarra, Director of ‘Le Carré Bleu, feuille internationale d'architecture’ and President of the Scientific Committee of the United States of the World, summarised the meaning of the Code and introduced the topics of the following round tables on unitary rules for design and a focus on the quality of living environments.
