This research addresses urban climate fragility nature proposing a cross-scale approach framework, helpful in assessing climate impacts and evaluating adaptive design solutions for buildings, urban spaces, and neighbourhoods. Existing adaptive design methods integrate with some difficulties all dimensions and scales that affect the environmental performance of buildings and cities. Our work proposes to include these dimensions and scales into different natures of physical fragility: climatic, microclimatic, morphological, typological and related to the building components. For each fragility, the research provides different levels of knowledge, both in terms of analysis and design scenario evaluation: urban system, physical characteristics, metrics and performance indicators, spatial and climate database, impacts and adaptation scenarios.In this framework, the study investigates two main issues: the effect of physical characteristics of buildings and neighbourhoods on the environment and the associated energy performance; the ability of the regenerative design to be useful in climate adaptation of cities. The proposed research methodology implies sequential and logical steps aiming at:1. developing a cross-scale workflow able to combine data, modelling and analysis tools;2. addressing physical fragility natures in existing urban areas and evaluating the associated impacts;3. proposing and assessing the effect of building and neighbourhood adaptation design strategies.

The ideal candidate possesses experience in Sustainable building design, microclimate and energy analysis. In particular, knowledge and skills for managing environmental and energy dynamic simulations – both at urban and building scales – are required. Previous expertise in GIS, BIM and parametric environment (Rhino + GH) are highly appreciated.

The PhD candidate will be involved in the “SOS Urban Lab”, a multi-disciplinary research team at the DICEA Department. The SOS Urban Lab has more than 15 active members. Among the main research streams are: - Mediterranean built environment: climate change, urban microclimate, building energy performance and comfort- urban-building energy modelling- urban and building vulnerability analysis- climate change adaptation by design: cross-scale advanced methods and tools - multi-objective urban and building performance analysis and design: digital simulations and tools- public housing regenerative design- circular building design.