Associate Principal and Regional Sustainability Leader, Woods Bagot

Stefano is an Italian architect with over 15 years of professional experience in mixed-use, master planning, civic architecture, urban design, and interior design. A graduate from the University of Florence, he has built his career working across China including Beijing and Hong Kong. He leads the Global Impact Group for the Asia region, leading the regional agenda on sustainability and wellness. His professional experience has enabled him to build a deep understanding of the China and Asia markets, the challenges faced by cities developing in this region, and the expectations of an ever-changing population of future users. Trained in design thinking and creative collaboration techniques, he develops the design from an initial understanding of a location’s users’ behaviors, community’s values, and a site’s unique opportunities. By grasping the point of view of future visitors or residents of a space or building, the design can then take shape. He also draws on market driven research to gather insights into how to develop an effective and valuable design solution. Health and wellbeing are at the core of his ethos, which incorporates sustainable processes and technologies to create a solution that serves the communities and people he designs for. Ultimately his goal is to continually push boundaries, to redefine what’s possible and set new benchmarks.

 

We asked Stefano on his thoughts of why is it important to incorporate urban agriculture into the built environment:

I believe that the path towards more sustainable, circular cities must include a significant shift of current food systems towards a new model rooted in low carbon emissions strategies, education, and regenerative approach to our ecosystems. The communities of tomorrow should be able to rely on systems that do not pollute as much, do not produce as much waste as today, and that celebrate locality. Urban agriculture is one of the essential aspects necessary to develop a model that is truly sustainable, socially impactful, and regenerative for communities and the environment both.