Department of Architecture Lecture
University of Hong Kong (HKU)
Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
26/09/2024
Carlo Ratti 0 loves cities and the built environment. Ranked as one of the top ten most-cited scholars in urban planning and one of the leading designers in America, he focuses on intelligent systems and the convergence between the natural and artificial worlds. Recently nominated curator of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, he aims to foster a public conversation 1 on our urban habitat, starting from his work at the intersection between academic research 2, innovative design 3, and start-up entrepreneurship 4.
Public conversation
Carlo’s opinions on cities, technology, and the future are contributing to a global conversation. Follow his hottest takes across the pages of his books, opinion essays, interviews, and social media.
(1.1) Latest OP–EDs
(1.2) Latest Books
Atlas of the Senseable City
Read it Now
The City of Tomorrow: Sensors, Networks, Hackers, and the Future of Urban Life
Read it Now
Open Source Architecture
Read it Now
Decoding the City: Urbanism in the Age of Big Data
Read it Now
Architettura Open Source
Read it Now
Senseable City Guide
Read it Now(1.4) Social Media
Introducing Quisimangia, a groundbreaking canteen designed by CRA for Mutti in the heart of Italy’s Food Valley.
• A dining hall immersed in greenery, topped with a compacted-earth green roof
• Floors made from tomato skins, celebrating creative reuse
• Culinary experiences curated by Michelin-starred chefs
Quisimangia invites employees—and soon, the public—to connect with nature and each other in a space that redefines circularity and innovation.
As Carlo Ratti puts it: "Not dining on the grass—but dining under it!"
#ArchitectureLovers #GreenArchitecture #CircularDesign #InnovationInFood #MadeInItaly
Open
A new era for the University of Milan. 🏛️
CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, together with the late Italo Rota and Lendlease, is shaping the future of education in the MIND-Milano Innovation District. Highlights include:
🔹 Green courtyards inspired by Renaissance ideals
🔹 Facades designed with advanced construction techniques for modern sophistication
🔹 Over 2 km of walkways connecting spaces for learning, relaxation, and collaboration
This "Campus 2.0" blends tradition and technology to foster new discoveries and connections. 🌱✨
📍Milan, Italy
👀 Swipe to explore how we’re designing the future of education!
@crassociati #CarloRatti #urban #futureofthecities #MIND #campus #università #university #CampusDesign #SustainableArchitecture #InnovationDistrict
Open
🌍 Design 4 Emergency: Crafting Container-Based Solutions for Crisis Response 🌱
Join us for this day workshop in collaboration with the University of Twente. This unique IAP workshop dives into the challenges, opportunities, and social justice dimensions of container-based designs in emergency scenarios.
Through a social justice game and hands-on workshop focused on Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro, you’ll explore how climate change, urban overcrowding, and global travel intensify crises—and learn how to design meaningful, impactful solutions for informal settlements worldwide.
📅 When: January 23, 2025, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Where: DUSP, 9-255 City Arena
📝 Apply by: January 21, 2025 (a 200-word motivation statement is required)
Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to solutions that address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. Apply now via this link: forms.gle/hNhd9jvi1pu4x3k88
Let’s shape the future, one container at a time! 🌟 #IAP2025 #SenseableCity #HumanitarianEngineering #SocialJustice
Open
✨ What a year it’s been! ✨
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve had. From groundbreaking designs to visionary collaborations, these moments shaped an unforgettable year:
🍝 Mutti Canteen (November 2024) – A vibrant space redefining the workplace experience through design and community.
🏢 Palazzo Micca (September 2024) – Breathing new life into a historic landmark in Turin.
📚 Mondadori (June 2024) – A bold transformation for one of Italy’s most iconic publishing houses.
🔋 Water Batteries (April 2024) – A leap toward circular energy solutions.
🍚 SunRice (April 2024) – Awarded as one of Archilovers’ Best Projects of 2024.
🔁 Artichoke (April 2024) – A playful and dynamic exploration of design in everyday spaces.
🎨 Piero della Francesca (March 2024) – Honoring art and heritage through innovation.
🇨🇵 France Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 (January 2024) – A visionary celebration of culture and technology for the upcoming World Expo.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s continue to imagine the city of tomorrow together! 🚀
@crassociati #CRA2024 #CarloRatti #Design #Innovation #FutureCities
Open
🌿 Where the city grows its own future. 🌆
Jian Mu Tower by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati redefines skyscraper living with a vertical farm stretching across its entire façade. This 218-meter marvel in Shenzhen blends work, nature, and sustainability into one groundbreaking design.
More than an office tower, it’s a vision of the future: where architecture connects work and nature, technology and well-being. 🌱✨
#CRA #JianMuTower #VerticalFarming #UrbanInnovation #GreenCities
Open
🌟 Good news! 🌟
We’re thrilled to announce that sunRICE has been selected as one of the Best on Archilovers 2024! 🎉✨
This recognition celebrates the project’s outstanding aesthetics, creativity, and functionality, making it one of the most loved among 25,000+ projects published this year. 🏗️💡
A huge thank you to the Archilovers community and everyone who supported us on this journey! 💛
@crassociati @archilovers #sunRICE #ArchitectureLovers #DesignExcellence #AwardWinning #CreativeDesign #ThankYou #Bestarchilovers2024
Open
Academic research
How can we use new tools to uncover our cities’ hidden secrets? Our team at the MIT Senseable City Lab is publishing new findings all the time. Read on for some of our latest discoveries…
(2.1) Latest papers
Building and Environment
Urban Science
Landscape and Urban Planning
Philosophical Transactions A
(2.2) Teaching roles
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2007-present
Professor of the Practice of Urban Technologies
MIT International Science andTechnology Initiatives (MISTI) 2009-present
Director
Politecnico di Milano 2022-present
Distinguished Professor
TTUP Tashkent 2023-present
Honorary Professor
University of Cambridge 2017-2019
Visiting Research Fellow
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology 2017-2019
Visiting Professor
Cambridge, United States
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Innovative design
A pavilion with walls of water. A skyscraper covered in plants. A renewable energy battery that doubles as a sauna. Carlo’s design firm, CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, is designing the city of tomorrow and bringing the natural and artificial worlds together.
(3.1) Latest CRA Projects
Baltimore, United States of America
Milan, Italy
Milan, Italy
Trieste, Italy
Start–up entrepreneurship
Carlo believes that innovation has to make it into the real world – and we have created an ecosystem of startups. We have received more than 500 million dollars to fund multiple projects internationally, in the field of micro-mobility, leisure, and construction.
