Sicily / December 2022 / 6 people team
Over the next decade, rising temperatures and the growing energy crisis will increasingly affect Italy’s aging population, especially people living in poverty.
To respond to this challenge, the Politecnico di Milano launched a lab inviting speculative ideas for low-energy solutions in a future of rising energy costs, focusing on product–service systems able to inspire new directions.
Today in fact, most cooling solutions consume large amounts of electricity and rely on non-renewable sources, often serving single users, while building renovation options remain hard to access due to bureaucracy and unclear processes.
1/5 A modular and passive system
Brease is a modular panel system that passively improves the energy efficiency of existing buildings. Installed externally without facade renovation, it provides shading and insulation, increasing thermal comfort with no energy consumption.
2/5 A symbolic location
The speculative proposal focuses on Torre Leone, a 14-story residential building in Southern Italy, often called the “concrete palace.” Located in an area highly exposed to heat waves, it represents low-performing post-war housing.
3/5 A clay brick
At the core of Brease is a clay “wave” brick. Mounted near windows, it creates natural ventilation, blocks direct sunlight, and supports climbing plants, forming a green facade that reduces heat for homes and surroundings.
