Smart Biophilic Cities: Green and Innovative Digital Solutions for Sustainable Urban Development

The transformation of cities leads architects and urban planners to search new technologies and approaches to encourage the application of natural living systems models on the built environments and consumer products, so that human activity sustains and even regenerates the living systems of which we are a part. To decarbonise cities, make environments more liveable, and raise market and user awareness of sustainability, resilience, and climate change issues, the contribution of design will have to be increasingly ethical and circular. Among the current and future challenges, it becomes central to work on the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, to spread awareness of the new healthy and intelligent lifestyles represented by the Smart Living concept. The article investigates issues related to Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) experimentation and biophilic design on the one hand, and the adoption of smart and enabling technology solutions to support communities, economy, and collaborative governance, on the other. Considering the importance of the biological cycle (biosphere) alongside the technological cycle (technosphere), the aim is to highlight methods and strategies to improve the integration of natural resources in contemporary urban contexts. Biological and intelligent approaches could improve the functionality of city systems and components by adopting green strategies to achieve a healthier environment and a resilient urban framework capable of tackling climate change. The integration of smart and innovative digital solutions could significantly improve this, providing diverse options tailored to the specific needs of modern urban areas. These advancements address the demand for updated tools and the transition of the energy system towards renewable resources. Starting from the analysis of scientific literature and European program guidelines, the chapter aims to investigate the principles of biophilic design and smart cities. Through the comparison of case studies, best practices, and strategies adopted in the context of designing inclusive, green, and smart urban places, the contribution aims to systematise and showcase existing tools, solutions, and actions for the design of urban places characterised by a regenerative perspective so as to facilitate the transition to more energy- and resource-efficient cities with a reduced impact on the planet.