Green Responsive System (GRS): A Paradigm Shift in Urban Decarbonization in the Mediterranean Context

The experimentation of the Green Responsive System Demonstrator (GRS) is situated within a context that adopts an innovative approach to the design and prototyping of technological systems, aiming to extend the lifecycle of resources through a Design-Driven Innovation strategy [1]. This paradigm employs circular strategies to facilitate efficient exchange of information and resources, following the “Cradle to Cradle” principle. The city acts as an extensive “Urban Mining” system, from which materials, waste, and by-products are extracted, necessitating the implementation of regenerative devices based on the competitiveness of urban metabolism performances. This approach entails reinvestment of urban waste and by-products, transforming them into resources, thereby initiating a new lifecycle that challenges the traditional concept of total consumption, promoting continuous transformation and value creation [2]. The experimentation of the GRS Demonstrator is a research trajectory involving multiple studies (URGES “Urban, Green, Shapes” POR-FESR Interreg 14-20, Research and Development with R.ED.EL., Experimentations during the Doctorate of Research, Works for participation in the Collateral Event for the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale), conducted at the Interuniversity Center ABITAlab, which has delved into innovative solutions to address emerging challenges in the design and prototyping of technological systems, addressing theincreasing impact of Anthropogenic Mass on surpassing Living Biomass [3]. By integrating results and methodologies from previous research, this study aims to explore new configurations of Biomass and Advanced Materials to promote a Regenerative Approach in Design [4]. Monitoring during the Pre-design and In-Manufacturing phases of the realized GRS Demonstrator enables the evaluation of any discrepancies between simulations and real data, while the frontier research approach aims to guide the development of increasingly effective solutions to address environmental and social challenges, opening new perspectives for the architecture of the future.