From Building to City: Smart and Sustainable in the Age of the Twin Transition

A Workshop Dedicated to a Highly Topical Issue at Smart Building Expo

The relationship between buildings and cities is only natural—after all, cities are made of buildings. In a way, they are artificial environments created to support and enhance social interaction, a fundamental component of human existence.

However, for a long time, buildings have functioned as largely independent units. That is no longer the case today—and even less so in the future.

With the advent of new technologies, these built environments have become increasingly interconnected through sophisticated networks, to the point where challenges such as environmental sustainability can only be tackled through a comprehensive, integrated vision. The importance of addressing the urban context is made clear by one simple statistic: already today, around 70% of the Italian population lives in cities—large or small—and this trend continues to grow.

In these environments, the growing influence of the “grid” concept has introduced new dynamics, where data and energy sharing are key drivers of development.

The workshop taking place at Fiera Milano on the morning of Friday, November 21, as part of Smart Building Expo, will begin with the presentation of the brand-new UNI 11973:2025 standard (Cities, communities, and sustainable infrastructure – The contribution of buildings to sustainability – Methodological model for the integration and interconnection of sustainable buildings in cities).
With insights from top-level experts, the event will explore the increasingly close relationship between buildings and cities through the lens of the twin transition—digital and green—and sustainability. It will also examine how smart buildings, energy management systems, and digital infrastructures can help create more efficient, resilient, and sustainable urban environments.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Domenico Di Canosa (President of SBA Italia)

• Pasquale Capezzuto (President of UNI Technical Commission No. 58 “Cities, communities, and sustainable infrastructure”)

• Alessandra Antonini (Head of Climate, Energy and Green Deal Sector, Committee of the Regions)