Architect Researcher

Graziano Enzo Marchesani

Architectural researcher specialising in computational design and urban environmental analysis. Innovating through data-driven design for sustainable and resilient cities.

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Graziano Enzo Marchesani

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I am a passionate researcher and academic deeply engaged in the fields of architecture, urban resilience, and environmental sustainability. My journey began with a profound curiosity about the built environment and its relationship with nature, which led me to explore innovative ways to harmonize urban spaces with ecological systems.Over the years, I have worked on numerous projects that bridge urban design and environmental improvement. My research spans a variety of topics, from urban micro-forestry to advanced environmental simulations, and my publications reflect my commitment to understanding and addressing the challenges of modern urban ecosystems. For example, I recently co-authored a study on the Urban Heat Island effect in Ascoli Piceno, combining remote sensing and CFD simulations to develop strategies for mitigating climate change impacts in urban areas. This work was published in Sustainability, a top-tier journal in the field, and has contributed to the broader discourse on urban health resilience.One of the key tools I have developed is Envi-reader, an online platform that processes and visualizes data from ENVI-met, a leading software for microclimate simulations. Envi-reader translates complex environmental data into visually compelling images, making it easier for urban planners and researchers to interpret and apply the results in real-world scenarios. This tool has been instrumental in my work, allowing me to communicate the impact of urban design decisions on microclimates and air quality in a clear and accessible way.In addition to Envi-reader, I have also developed the EnviMet-automation-Protocol, a comprehensive framework for automating environmental modeling workflows using ENVI-met. This protocol, which integrates tools like Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, and the Morpho plugin, standardizes the process of creating, analyzing, and validating environmental models. By automating repetitive tasks and ensuring consistency in data structuring, the protocol significantly speeds up the modeling process while maintaining high levels of accuracy and replicability. This project is part of the LIFE A_GreeNET initiative and has been designed to support large-scale urban environmental simulations, making it a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners in the field.Beyond academia, I have organized events and exhibitions that showcase the intersection of architectural innovation and environmental awareness. For instance, I recently led a workshop titled "Natura Urbana" at the Festival della Terra in Lucca, where we explored strategies for integrating natural elements into urban spaces to combat climate change. The workshop focused on improving air quality, enhancing biodiversity, and creating more livable cities through the use of green infrastructure.I strongly believe in the power of multidisciplinary collaboration. By working with professionals from diverse backgrounds—engineers, ecologists, urban planners, and policymakers—we can create holistic solutions to the pressing environmental and urban challenges of our time. For example, I have collaborated with experts from the University of Camerino and University of Firenze on projects that combine urban forestry with data visualization, aiming to make environmental data more accessible and actionable for urban planners.Welcome to my journey of exploration, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. If you're interested in collaborating, learning more about my work, or participating in future events, feel free to reach out. Let's work together to create sustainable and resilient urban environments for the future.

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Journal

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Tools Development

Here some of the tools I've developed, each designed to simplify specific workflows and enhance data-driven design. Explore the articles below to learn more about their features, motivations, and practical applications.
If you find these tools and research valuable, please consider supporting my work with a small PayPal donation. Your contribution helps fund new developments and keep resources freely available to the academic community.

Architectural Projects

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Hi there! Thanks for visitingThis space is currently under construction as I'm working on creating something new and exciting.Please check back soon!Graziano Enzo Marchesani

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Skills & Expertise

The dynamic graph above illustrates the diverse yet interconnected abilities I bring to research, teaching, and consulting in sustainable urbanism and architecture. It reflects a commitment to integrating cutting-edge computational techniques with deep domain knowledge.My expertise is built on two core pillars:Advanced Architectural & Environmental Understanding: I possess strong capabilities in Parametric and Computational Design, utilizing tools like Grasshopper and Ladybug Tools to push the boundaries of form and function. This is complemented by rigorous Environmental Simulation expertise (ENVI-met, EnergyPlus, CFD) to analyze and optimize performance concerning microclimate, energy, and occupant comfort. My work is fundamentally driven by principles of Sustainable Urban Planning, focusing on resilience, regeneration, and mitigating environmental impacts like the urban heat island effect.Robust Software Development & Data Fluency: To support and extend these design capabilities, I actively engage in Software Development. With proficiency in Python, C++, and web technologies, I create custom tools, develop plugins and APIs, and build parametric libraries, often contributing to the Open Source community (leveraging tools like QGIS and Blender). Managing complex Data Pipelines and performing Geospatial Analysis are integral parts of my workflow.This synergy between architectural insight and computational power allows me to develop innovative methodologies and deliver impactful solutions. Feel free to interact with the visualization to explore the relationships between different skill areas.

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Teaching & Workshops

Knowledge sharing is a core pillar of my professional journey. This section showcases my educational contributions, ranging from open-access YouTube courses to intensive workshops and academic mentoring. My goal is to make complex methodologies—such as computational design and environmental simulation—accessible, providing practical and theoretical tools for students, researchers, and professionals alike.

IL CODICE DELLA FORMA
UN DIALOGO PARAMETRICO TRA GEOMETRIA E CLIMA

This three-part seminar series explores the world of parametric design as a bridge between geometric creativity and climate analysis. Through the use of Grasshopper, Ladybug Tools, and Honeybee, we will learn to build generative logic and query climate data to make more informed and high-performance design decisions, focusing specifically on outdoor spaces.Lesson 1: Parametric Thinking | From Rules to Form
Introduction to Grasshopper’s associative logic. We will learn the basics of building a "system of rules" rather than a "static drawing."
Lesson 2: Dialogue with the Site | Visualizing Climate with Ladybug
We will learn to read and interpret weather files to produce fundamental visualizations such as sun path diagrams, temperature charts, and wind roses, transforming abstract data into visual design tools.Lesson 3: From Sun to Person | Solar Analysis and Simplified Comfort Simulation
We will apply our knowledge to a practical case study. We will compare three levels of analysis for outdoor spaces: direct sun hours, incident solar radiation, and finally, perceived human comfort.Go to the YouTube playlist

Natura Urbana: Climate-Adaptive Design in Historic Contexts
Intensive Workshop | Pianeta Terra Festival, Lucca 2024

In October 2024, within the prestigious framework of the Pianeta Terra Festival (directed by Stefano Mancuso), I co-led the "Natura Urbana" design workshop. The initiative transformed the historic walled city of Lucca into an open-air laboratory to test adaptation strategies against climate change.Objectives & Methodology
The workshop guided students through an integrated workflow, merging advanced climate analysis with sensitive architectural design. The primary goal was to identify Urban Heat Islands (UHI) and mitigate surface temperatures through the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS).My contribution focused on making complex environmental simulation tools accessible to students, covering:
Environmental Analysis & Data: Mapping Local Climate Zones (LCZ) and analysing Land Surface Temperature (LST) to pinpoint critical urban areas.
Computational Design: Utilising algorithms (Grasshopper) to simulate environmental factors—such as solar radiation and shading—to optimise the placement of vegetation and mobile structures.
Interdisciplinary Approach: Bridging the gap between architectural technology and forestry geomatics to quantify the ecosystem services of urban greenery.Outcomes
Students developed concrete proposals—such as the "LuccHeart" and "Spillover" projects—hypothesising mobile green systems, permeable paving, and new ecological corridors connecting historic piazzas (e.g., Piazza dell'Anfiteatro), demonstrating how climate data can drive new urban morphologies.Team & Credits
A project by the School of Architecture and Design "Eduardo Vittoria" (UNICAM) in collaboration with the University of Florence (UNIFI).Scientific Coordination & Teaching (UNICAM):
* Prof. Maria Federica Ottone (Architectural Technology)
* Prof. Roberta Cocci Grifoni (Environmental Applied Physics)
* Graziano Enzo Marchesani, PhD (Computational Design & Environmental Analysis)
* Timothy Daniel Brownlee, PhD (Post-doc Research Fellow)
* Dajla Riera, PhD (Post-doc Research Fellow)Scientific Contribution - Forest Monitoring (UNIFI):
* Prof. Gherardo Chirici (geoLAB - Laboratory of Forest Geomatics)
* Costanza Borghi, PhD (Post-doc Research Fellow)Tutors:
* Pierpaolo Cicconi
* Chiara PaoliniPianeta Terra Festival: pianetaterrafestival.it

Publications

This section showcases my contributions to the scientific community through various publications.
My research operates at the intersection of sustainable urban planning, environmental design, and computational methods, reflecting the core themes of my expertise detailed elsewhere on this site. The works presented here delve into critical topics such as urban resilience, climate change adaptation, microclimate analysis using tools like CFD and simulation, architectural innovation through parametric design, and the development of novel digital tools and software (often shared as open-source) for design, analysis, and simulation within the built environment. You will find contributions ranging from peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings to book chapters and software releases, all demonstrating a commitment to advancing knowledge and developing practical, data-driven solutions for contemporary urban and environmental challenges.

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