The Lens of Time in Spatial Planning

This edition explores "Time" as a vital dimension of space.

Cities and regions have always evolved alongside cultural, social, environmental, and technological shifts. However, while the world transforms rapidly, the adaptive capacity of cities and their administration often lags behind. This Biennale examines whether cities, territories and communities can adapt in time to looming urgencies to remain the natural habitat of civilizations.

In an era of constant acceleration and on the verge of a new revolution, how do planners, traditionally the visionaries, anticipate this transformation? This event views urbanism through a temporal lens, treating time not just as a technical variable, but as a political, social, and cultural dimension that shapes how we live and imagine the urban future.

Thematic Tracks

Track 1: Time of the Process (Administrative Agility)

Planning processes are often slow and complex—this panel explores European success stories that simplify and digitalise procedures to reduce administrative "downtime" while maintaining transparency and quality.

● Simplification and Digitalisation: Strategies to make planning and management more efficient.

● Regulatory Innovation: Reforming planning approval and building permit processes without compromising rigour or transparency.

● Predictable Governance: Approaches to make administrative procedures more transparent and participatory.

● Plan-making process: Accelerating structure and land-use plans, as well as town planning schemes, to more efficiently.

Track 2: Time of Execution (Construction & Circularity)

Implementation in the Right Time: Cities face growing demands for renewal, resilience, and housing. This panel will examine best practices in construction solutions that reduce costs and delivery time while enhancing environmental quality.

● Industrialised Construction: Off-site manufacturing, prefabrication, and BIM to reduce delivery time.

● Circular Economy Timelines: Designing for disassembly and managing the lifecycle of urban materials.

● Urban Resilience: Fast-tracking infrastructure for flood mitigation and heatwave adaptation.

● Environmental Balance: Planning green cities with nature‑based solutions to reduce urban footprints while enhancing urban climate and community wellbeing through nature’s instrumental value.

Track 3: Time of People (Sovereignty & Rhythms)

As technology reshapes work and frees up human time, this panel will examine at best practices in how urban design and public spaces can foster health, wellbeing, and social inclusion for people of all ages in cities.

● Chronourbanism: Urban design that accommodates flexible work-life patterns and asynchronous societies.

● Intergenerational Design: Addressing the distinct needs of children and the elderly in the planning of public spaces.

● The Right to Slowness: Creating urban environments that promote mental health, leisure, and reflection.

Track 4: Time of New Frontiers (AI, Digital and Social Paradigms)

As AI reshapes how cities, regions and communities are conceived and perceived, this panel explores best practices in data-driven spatial planning, from territorial analysis to mobility forecasting, risk modeling, and the evaluation of public policy and solutions.

● Scenario Simulation: Using data to anticipate urban impacts and model future risks.

● Evidence-Based Planning: Case studies where AI assisted in policy evaluation and territorial analysis.

● The Ethics of Efficiency: Ensuring human-centric and transparent decision-making in algorithmic urbanism.