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Pezzetti Laura Anna

Associate Professor

Laura A. Pezzetti, M.Arch, PhD, is Associate Professor of Architectural Design and Urban Composition at Politecnico di Milano, where she is doctoral supervisor, coordinates three Double Master’s Degree Programmes (TSA, SEU, XAUAT), and serves as Delegate for China, and acts as Vice Dean for relations with Tsinghua University. She has been awarded the title of Honorary Professor at Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, and she is a Visiting Professor at XAUAT and SEU. She is a selected member of the International Advisory Board of the Annual Review of Chinese Architectural Theory.She conducts research and design activities in both Italy and China, where she has directed the annual ‘Heritage-Led Design Workshop’ in Xi’an since 2015. Her work focuses on the theory and design of Urban Architecture and the Urban Project, with particular attention to historic sites undergoing transformation, as well as architecture for collective activities, schools, and public spaces. She develops research and design projects for both private clients and public administrations. Her theoretical research and design work have been published internationally and presented at numerous conferences as a keynote speaker and at exhibitions.

Career

Bachelor and Master Degrees in Architecture 100/100 summa cum Laude (first-class honours degree), School of Architecture, Politecnico of Milano, supervisor Prof. G. Canella with. A. Acuto and G. Bordogna.

Research

Architectural Theory and Design, Urban Typology and Morphology, Heritage Sites Enhancements, Interpretation and Presentation,Public Buildings, School Buildings, Public Space.

Selected Publications

Books

  • L.A. Pezzetti (2020). Continuare a scrivere nel paesaggio storico: Lettura, interpretazione, figurazione, p.1-159. Siracusa: LetteraVentidue. ISBN 978-88-6242-454-7
  • L.A. Pezzetti (2020). Rewriting Urban Strata in China: Reading, Interpreting, Recoding Xi’an Xiaoyan Ta’s Historic Urban Landscape, p. 1-288. Padova: Il Poligrafo. ISBN 978-88-9387-134-1
  • L.A. Pezzetti (2019). Layered Morphologies and Latent Structures: Reading, Decoding and Rewriting to Enhance Historic Rurban Landscape, p. 1-300. Shanghai: Tongji University Press. ISBN 978-7-5608-8800-2
  • L.A. Pezzetti and Xiao Li (2017), Liu Kecheng. Going through Historical Space, p. 1-250. Shanghai: Zhongguo jiianzhu gongye chubanshe. ISBN 978-7112-21285-9
  • L.A. Pezzetti (2012). Architetture per la scuola. Impianto, forma, idea, p.1-119. Napoli: CLEAN. ISBN 9788884972323
  • L.A. Pezzetti Ed. (2006; 2012). Contemporary Chinese Architecture: Tradition and Transformation. 张永和、王澍、刘家琨、张雷 / Architettura cinese contemporanea: tradizione e trasformazione, Yung Ho Chang, Wang Shu, Liu Jakun, Zhang Lei, p.1-154, Reprint. Milano: Maggioli. (first edition Milano: Clup 2006). ISBN: 8838761876-


Books’ chapters and journals articles

  • L.A. Pezzetti (2025). “续写：形态类型、潜在结构和中国城市项目 / Continuing to Write. Type-Morphology, Latent Structures, and the Urban Project for the Chinese City”, in The Architect 建筑师, pp. 06-15. ISSN: 1001-6740
  • L.A. Pezzetti, H. Khanamiryan (2025). “Regenerative Learning Architecture. The School Campus of Vimercate as a Unit of Urban Morphology”, in eds. Kantarek A.A., Hanzl M., Zaguła A., Musiaka T., Figlus T., 2023, Urban Morphology versus Urban Redevelopment and Revitalisation, Springer Cham, p.657-684. ISBN 978-3-031-77751-6; 978-3-031-77754-7; 978-3-031-77752-3; ISSN 2365-7588; 2365-757X.
  • L.A. Pezzetti, L. Bao (2025). “Reading for Rewriting Chinese Urban Form. The Dual Typo-Morphology of Nanshijie Block in Ganzhou”, in eds. Kantarek A.A., Hanzl M., Zaguła A., Musiaka T., Figlus T., 2023, Urban Morphology versus Urban Redevelopment and Revitalisation, Springer Cham, p.167-180. ISBN 978-3-031-77751-6; 978-3-031-77754-7; 978-3-031-77752-3; ISSN 2365-7588; 2365-757X.
  • L.A. Pezzetti (2024). “Presencing Absence: History Memory Rewriting. Liu Kecheng’s Interpretative Architecture”, in The Art of Remembering: Urban Memories, Architecture and Agencies in Contemporary China, eds. Yat Ming Loo, Hua Li, Jing Xie and Eugenio Mangi, pp.48-71. New York, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN 9781032745305, DOI: 10.4324/9781003470137.
  • L.A. Pezzetti (2021). “The lesson of Canella and Rossi within the School of Milan. The Rationale of Context and Design Inventio between Structurality, Typology and Morphology”, Urban Form and Design n.15-VII, numero monografico La ricerca di Morfologia Urbana in Italia / Urban Morphology Research in Italy: Rethinking urban morphology, Traditions and new schools 1: 146-151. ISSN:2612-3754 ISBN:978-88-913-2512
  • L.A. Pezzetti, Laura A. (2019). “Space-Places and the Third Teacher. The Issue of Architectural Space in the Age of Knowledge Cities and Schools 3.0” in Buildings for Education: A Multidisciplinary Overview of the Design of School Buildings, a cura di Della Torre, S., Bocciarelli, M., Daglio, L., Neri, R., pp. 214-224. Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-33687-5
  • L.A. Pezzetti (2010). “Principi compositivi nell'opera di Louis I. Kahn”, in F. Lambertucci, M. Meriggi, C. Pallini, L. A. Pezzetti, P. Posocco Cinque interventi sulla composizione architettonica, Libraccio-Lampi di Stampa, Milano 2010, рp.86-117; 149-150. ISBN: 9788848810135
  • L.A. Pezzetti (2008). “Stanze Architettoniche. La Bank of England di John Soane” (Architectural Rooms. John Soane’s Bank of England), in E. Mantese (ed.), Carattere, narrazione, variazione, Venezia: Marsilio. ISBN: 9788831794756

Grants, awards and Honours

  • She has been appointed as Honorary Professor at the College of Architecture of Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, China (2025)
  • Awarded Design for the “Atelier of Discoveries: Science, History and Technology for Immersive Learning” for the innovation of the Ruffini Primary School, Municipality of Milan (2020)
  • Awarded Design for the “Inclusive School Lab”, for the innovation of the Console Marcello Primary School, Municipality of Milan (2020)
  • UIA-CBC International Universities Competitive Construction Workshop, Top 15 first phase, 3°prize second phase (2019)
  • 1° Prize for guidance of students, awarded in the Workshop Exhibition for Exchange Programme of Architecture Schools of China, Architectural Society of China (2017)
  • 3° Prize for guidance of students, awarded in the Workshop Exhibition for Exchange Programme of Architecture Schools of China, Architectural Society of China (2017)
  • 1° Prize Contest “Project of requalification of urban axis and schools’ spaces” Cesano Maderno (MB) (2014)
  • “Identity and quality of housing places: sustainable requalification projects for neglected urban context in Milan”, selected from Milan’s Municipality to be the partner in the EU call FP7, “Energy.2012.8.8.3: Demonstration of nearly Zero Energy Building Renovation for cities and districts” with the final project “European cities serving as Green Urban Gate towards Leadership in sustainable Energy” (granted), coordinator for ABC department (along with Prof. R. Neri)
  • Awarded Research Project “Lo sviluppo sostenibile della direttrice nord ovest, da Garibaldi all'Expo 2015. Un hub della conoscenza per l'innovazione tecnologica e lo sviluppo di prodotti e servizi”, DPA Department, Politecnico di Milano (2010)
  • 1° Prize “Urban Design and Regeneration of Piazza S. Eusebio, Area delle Rimembranze, via Mandioni at Villa Raverio (MB), Appointed for all phases of design and execution as site supervisor (2008)- Award best Young Researcher, DPA Department, Politecnico di Milano (2006)

Community Service

In 2025, she is appointed as one of the 9 members of the International Advisory Board of the Annual Review of Chinese Architectural Theory.

In 2025, she is vice-president and member of the scientific committee of the International Academic Conference “设计美好未来：全球挑战与地域回应”国际学术会议 一号通知 ”Design for a Better Future: Global Challenges, Local Solutions”, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, China, 16-17 May 2025.

Since 2020, she has been delegated by the Head of the ABC Department to coordinate the “School Buildings Observatory” (“Osservatorio Scuole”).

In 2020, she was delegated by the ABC Department to the institutional working group of the Municipality of Milan, “Unlock Milano”, for the reopening of schools' buildings during the pandemic.