Can a City Heal Itself?

March 22, 2025 – 2:00 pm
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Event Recordings

Paris, a city renowned for its architectural grandeur, urban rigour and charm, has long been a beacon of inspiration for city-makers around the world. With its blend of historical trademarks and innovation, the French capital has the privileged opportunity—and the responsibility—to redefine what it means to be a city of the future. In an era of rapid urban growth, climate change, and increasing mental health challenges in city dwellers, how can cities evolve to become more resilient, inclusive, and restorative spaces for all?

This event will explore innovative strategies for urban regeneration, focusing on three key themes:

  • Combating global climate change through forward-thinking urban planning and sustainable design.
  • Fostering stronger, more connected communities by embracing participatory and collaborative design approaches.
  • Designing cities that promote mental and physical well-being, ensuring that urban environments actively support human health and happiness.

The event is structured in two intertwining parts:

  • Guest Speaker Presentations – Two leading experts will share their groundbreaking work and insights on the future of healing cities.
  • Panel Discussion – chaired by Pierre Longhini, architect, entrepreneur, and fellow at the CCD, this panel will bring together distinguished guests from the fields of neuroscience, architecture, urban design and engineering to discuss how interdisciplinary collaboration can drive urban innovation.

Be part of the conversation. Discover how urban spaces can transform into catalysts for healing, sustainability, and human connection.

When and Where :

Date : March 22nd, 2025

Time : 2pm CET

This is a virtual event – you can join online by the registering. You will receive a link to the event closer to the event date.

Register and stay tuned for further details !

Hosted by

Organised by

Federica Sanchez is an architect and researcher in Applied Neuroscience at Lombardini22 since 2020. She works on projects ranging from workplace, rest houses, schools and prisons, advising architects from the concept phase to executive design.

Since 2023 she collaborates with MySpace Lab, a research centre of the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Lausanne, to quantitatively measure people’s experience of space.

Besides designing, Federica is part of NuArch, a research project born from the collaboration between Lombardini22 and CNR-IN Parma, which investigates the effects of architecture on human beings from a neuro-physiological and social point of view under the guidance of neuroscientist Giacomo Rizzolatti.

She is interested in the field of neuroaesthetics and its applications in art and design, neuroergonomics and phenomenology, and lectures at international universities.

Federica holds a degree in Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano and a degree in Landscape Architecture from the Technical University of Delft (The Netherlands). She has worked in Japan, The Netherlands and Italy, collaborating on various projects such as installations, schools and hospitals. He later obtained a Postgraduate Master’s degree in ‘Neuroscience applied to Architectural design’ at IUAV, Venice, and a Master’s degree in ‘Olfactory Spatial Design’ at POLI.Design.

Paolo is the Director of Regeneration and Placemaking at Lombardini22, with over 15 years of international experience in leading architectural firms. He has managed complex urban and infrastructural projects across Europe and Asia, focusing on balancing human and natural environments for sustainable impact. Paolo combines professional practice with research and teaching, currently lecturing in London, Paris, Milan, and Tirana. He previously worked for more than years at Grimshaw Architects in London.

Since 2020, he has contributed to Circuit, a research program on circularity in design and construction. He holds a Master of Advanced Studies in Sustainable Territorial Planning from the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio.

He was also a design tutor at the London School of Architecture for several years and now holds a lecturer position at Oxford Brooks University.