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
The relay to “l’è grand Milan” begins. Today, the Olympic flame was lit in Rome and is now crossing Italy on its way to Cortina and Milan. ✨
Congratulations to all the #MilanoCortina2026 Olympic and Paralympic torch bearers.
The torch was born from the vision of Versalis (Official Supporter of the Games), in collaboration with CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati for the design and Cavagna Group for engineering.
🔗 Read more via @milanocortina2026 @olympics @eni @enilive_official #versalis
#IOC #OlympicTorch #MilanoCortina2026 #CarloRattiAssociati #Olympics #paralympics
Open
AquaPraça has officially completed its journey as one of the defining landmarks of COP30 (@cop30nobrasil) — and soon, a lasting cultural landmark for Belém.
Designed by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati (@crassociati) and Höweler + Yoon (@howeleryoonarchitecture), the floating plaza now rests on the Guajará Bay, rising and falling with the Amazon tides as it hosts cultural events and creates public spaces where people can meet the water at eye level — already welcoming over 25,000 visitors during this year’s climate summit.
—
A AquaPraça concluiu oficialmente sua jornada como um dos marcos emblemáticos da COP30 — e, em breve, será também um duradouro ponto cultural para Belém.
Projetada pela CRA–Carlo Ratti Associati e pela Höweler + Yoon, a praça flutuante agora estaciona na Baía do Guajará, subindo e descendo com as marés amazônicas enquanto recebe eventos culturais e cria espaços públicos onde as pessoas podem encontrar a água na altura dos olhos — já acolhendo mais de 25.000 visitantes durante a cúpula do clima deste ano.
@ciheam_bari @connect4climate @italymfa @mase_it @bloombergdotorg @cop30nobrasil
In partnership with Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, AquaPraça was made possible thanks to a broad international coalition. AquaPraça will be donated by Italy to Brazil after COP30, becoming a permanent community space dedicated to climate engagement, cultural initiatives, and creative industries in partnership with the State of Pará.
#HowelerYoon #AquaPraça #COP30 #ClimateAction #FloatingArchitecture #PublicSpace #DesignForChange #Belém #VeniceBiennale #BiennaleArchitettura2025 #Intelligens #ArchitectureAndClimate #CollectiveDesign
Open
Join us on the closing day of Biennale Architettura 2025.
From 12:15 to 17:00, the Speakers’ Corner hosts ‘Intelligens Legacy’, a series of short forums exploring how the exhibition’s ideas, materials, and collaborations continue beyond Venice, from research and upcycling to long term initiatives.
📍 Corderie dell’Arsenale, Venice
🗓 23 November 2025
We are pleased to welcome contributions from @scape_studio (Craig Douglas and Marco Scano), Mark Wigley (@wig56) and Beatriz Colomina, @cittadellarte (Michele Cerruti), @terreform_1 (Melanie Fessel), @embtarchitects (Benedetta Tagliabue), Luc Steels, Christopher Pierce (@christopher.d.pierce), and Nigel Coates (@nigelcoates_projects).
Don’t miss the chance to see how the Biennale lives on.
@labiennale #BiennaleArchitettura2025 #IntelliGens
Open
Take a peek inside the MAE Museum, the world’s first museum dedicated to carbon fiber.
A hidden industrial archive ignites in Italy’s Motor Valley, unfolding as an immersive lab of discovery and material innovation designed by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati (@crassociati) and Italo Rota (@italorotastudio).
Image by @beppemiotto and @marcocappellettistudio.
@mae_museum_ @maechemistrymachinery #MAEMuseum #CarloRattiAssociati #ItaloRota #MotorValley #CarbonFiber
Open
AquaPraça, the floating cultural plaza designed by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and Höweler + Yoon, has become one of the defining landmarks of the UN Climate Change Conference COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
Having crossed the Atlantic, the platform now sits on the Guajará Bay as part of the Italian Pavilion at COP30. Engineered to adapt to the tides, it will serve as a civic stage for dialogue, culture, and climate action throughout the summit.
After its debut in Venice during the Biennale Architettura 2025, developed in partnership with Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, and the COP30 Presidency, AquaPraça now takes on its next role as an integral part of the Italian Pavilion at the UN Climate Change Conference.
AquaPraça was made possible through a unique international coalition, including the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation, CIHEAM Bari and the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate program, and with the support of BF International – Member of BF S.p.A. Group (as AquaPraça COP30 Naming Partner), Bloomberg Philanthropies, Costa Crociere, ENEL, and Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane. AquaPraça was constructed by Italian leading advanced steel construction Company, Cimolai. After COP30, Aquapraca will be donated by Italy to Brazil to become a community space for promoting social engagement on climate, cultural strategy, and creative industries, in partnership with the State of Parà, Brazil.
Images: @leonardofinotti
#CRA @howeleryoonarchitecture @ciheam_bari @connect4climate @italymfa @mase_it @bloombergdotorg @cop30nobrasil @cimolai_group
#HowelerYoon #AquaPraça #COP30 #ClimateAction #FloatingArchitecture #PublicSpace #DesignForChange #Belém #VeniceBiennale #BiennaleArchitettura2025 #Intelligens #ArchitectureAndClimate #CollectiveDesign
Open
🔔 Join our research team shaping urban futures: Senseable is recruiting internationally! 🌏
Visit senseable.mit.edu for full list of open positions and to apply.
Questions? Contact senseable-applicants@mit.edu
#recruiting #research #urbanfutures #smartcities #applynow
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
Sustainable Cities and Society
Scientific Reports
npj Urban Sustainability
Scientific Reports
Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science
Martin Beech (ed.) Geoengineering and Climate Change: Methods, Risks, and Governance (Scrivener), and Governance (Scrivener), Martin Beech (ed.) Geoengineering and Climate Change: Methods, Risks
(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.
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.
