Biophilia and urban regeneration – 3D-printed Tech-NbS for resilient micro-interventions

The article presents the methodological framework and the first experimental outcomes of Urban Bloomers, a research project funded through the UniFI Extra 2025 – Public Engagement call and dedicated to the development of vegetated façade systems as technology-enabled Nature-based Solutions, 3D printed in clay and co-designed with institutional actors, companies, researchers, and school communities for biodiversity-oriented regeneration interventions in Mediterranean school recreational spaces. Through a state-of-the-art analysis, participatory activities for the observation, identification, and mapping of species, co-design workshops, parametric modelling, and additive prototyping, the research defines design, construction, and ecological criteria for the development of biophilic modules capable of integrating climate-stress-tolerant plant species, improving the microclimate, and supporting environmental learning processes. The preliminary outcomes provide a replicable methodological framework and the development of a first prototype of a Living Wall System (LWS) façade, oriented towards integrating ecological performance, the spatial quality of educational environments, and in situ application.