The “Beauty and the Built Landscape Week”, to be held in Viterbo, Italy, on June 16-21, 2025, aims to foster discussions on the role of beauty in urban design. The event will explore how aesthetic quality can contribute to human well-being, sustainability, and the design of livable cities. The congress, planned to be held on June 17-19, seeks to address the contemporary challenges of urban aesthetics by integrating perspectives from history, culture, environmental psychology, and design theory. It also aims to reconcile the functional and environmental aspects of urban planning with the traditional goal of creating beautiful and hospitable living environments. Five sessions are scheduled focusing on the following topics:<\/p>\n
Sessions<\/strong><\/p>\n Session 1: The Watermarks of Beauty <\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n Coordinated by: Mark Alan Hewitt<\/strong>, Mark Alan Hewitt Architects; Steven W. Semes<\/strong>, University of Notre Dame, Board of Directors, BBL<\/p>\n What are we talking about when we talk of beauty in urban landscapes? What are its characteristics and where does it come from? Are there different types? Is it generally the product of single artists or of collective involvement? Is it innate and culturally universal or the property of diverse cultures? We begin with a brief overview of some central questions.<\/em><\/p>\n Session 2: Beauty and Organized Complexity<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n Coordinated by: Stefano Cozzolino<\/strong>, Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development, Dortmund, Scientific Committee, BBL;\u00a0Stefano Moroni<\/strong>, Politecnico di Milano, Board of Directors, BBL<\/p>\n Urban beauty has traditionally been thought to be \u201ca work of art\u201d. However, authors engaging with complexity theories, such as Jane <\/i>Jacobs and Christopher Alexander, have challenged this assumption, emphasising the generative power of urban life and emergent living <\/i>structures. Where does the contemporary debate stand today?<\/i><\/p>\n Session 3: Inhabiting Beauty: Urban and Social Aspects of Environmental Aesthetic Quality <\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n Coordinated by: Claudia Mattogno<\/strong>, Chair, Scientific Committee, BBL; Marichela Sepe<\/strong>, Coordinator GUD, Sapienza Universit\u00e0 di Roma, Board of Directors, BBL<\/p>\n By focusing on the role of beauty in the design and experience of public spaces, the session will explore how elements such as form, <\/i>materials, textures, and colours shape the way people perceive and interact with their surroundings. Participants are encouraged to <\/i>consider how beauty can elevate the functionality of public spaces, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose while promoting active <\/i>and inclusive engagement with urban life. Both theoretical and empirical contributions are welcomed.<\/i><\/p>\n Session 4: Beauty and Culture: Lifestyle, Building Types, Historical Towns and Vernacular Architecture<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n Coordinated by: W.w. D\u012bng<\/strong>, Nanjing University, ISUF, Director, Urban Design Dept for Historical and Cultural City Committee, Chinese Society of Urban Studies, Board of Directors, BBL; J\u01d0nx\u012b Ch.n<\/strong>, Tsinghua University, Scientific Committee, BBL<\/p>\n Beauty and culture are inseparable in determining the aesthetic qualities of cities. There is no absolute beauty, and different cultures <\/i>create the beauty of different cities. The aesthetic quality of historic centres, traditional and vernacular settlements, cases and methods of <\/i>regeneration are discussed with a cosmopolitan attitude.<\/i><\/p>\n Session 5: Beauty and Liberty<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n Coordinated by: Stefano Cozzolino, Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development, Dortmund, Scientific Committee, BBL; Stefano Moroni, Politecnico di Milano, Board of Directors, BBL<\/p>\n Harmony and order are two conceptual pillars of beauty, often operationalised through stringent, highly prescriptive regulatory <\/i>frameworks that can stifle individual design creativity and freedom. As observed by Marco Romano, among others, this approach can <\/i>have significant negative repercussions. What should the role of regulation be?<\/i><\/p>\n In addition to the congress, the BBL week will feature exhibitions, films, and tours in historic sites of Viterbo and its surroundings.<\/p>\n The congress welcomes both theoretical and design contributions<\/strong> focusing on the intersection of beauty and urban design. Participants will be selected based on the relevance of their contributions to:<\/p>\n Participation:<\/strong><\/p>\n The congress seeks to encourage an interdisciplinary approach, welcoming contributions from aesthetics, urban morphology, phenomenology, experimental psychology, and design strategies that explicitly address urban beauty.<\/p>\nCall for Abstracts and Projects<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Submission Guidelines<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Selection & Publication Process<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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