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Born in Genoa, Italy, 1995
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PUBLICATIONS
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STRIPPING THE MODEL. PROSPETTIVE SULLA NATURA VAGA DEL TIPO
Journal Paper
Author:
Martina Guasco, https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3104-3284
Dipartimento di Architettura e Design, Università degli Studi di Genova, Italia
Martina Guasco, https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3104-3284
Dipartimento di Architettura e Design, Università degli Studi di Genova, Italia
July 2025
Typology 11, 2025
Tipologia/Typology di Valter Scelsi, direttore scientifico di GUD
GUD - A Magazine about Architecture, Design and Cities
Stefano Termanini Editore
ISSN online: 1720-075X, open accessTipologia/Typology di Valter Scelsi, direttore scientifico di GUD
GUD - A Magazine about Architecture, Design and Cities
Stefano Termanini Editore
Abstract
theoretical positions, with a focus on terminology and classification systems. The
core reflection lies in the epistemological divergence between assigning a term to a
form versus identifying a form from a constitutive principle. This divergence complicates
any attempt at a universal definition of type, exposing its inherent ambiguity.
In the Italian theoretical context of the 1960s, thinkers such as Saverio Muratori
and Aldo Rossi interpreted the type as a principlerecognisable through the form. In
contrast, German authors like Semper and Ungers assigned autonomous symbolic
value to architectural terms, emphasising the cultural and linguistic meaning over
formal characteristics.This distinction becomes particularly evident in architectural
terminology: terms such as “Schloss”, “Palast”, and “Villa” in German carry specific
historical and social connotations that do not align neatly with their Italian equivalents.
Examples like Schloss Charlottenhof or the Berliner Schloss illustrate how the
persistence of a name can obscure radical morphological shifts, making the tension
between form and meaning visible.This paper does not claim to be exhaustive; rather,
it aims to question a presumed universality of typological theory. It proposes to see
type not as a fixed formal category but as a dynamic entity shaped by context, language,
and cultural frameworks.
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DATA REASONING TO SHAPE TREE PATCHES: OPTIMISING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN URBAN CANYONS
Journal Paper
Authors:
Francesca Mosca, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8898-8727
Gabriele Oneto, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3621-1179
Martina Guasco, https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3104-3284
Katia Perini, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0415-8246
Dipartimento di Architettura e Design, Università degli Studi di Genova, Italia
Gabriele Oneto, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3621-1179
Martina Guasco, https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3104-3284
Katia Perini, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0415-8246
Dipartimento di Architettura e Design, Università degli Studi di Genova, Italia
July 2025
ISSN online: 2239-0243 | © 2025 Firenze University Press | http://www.fupress.com/techne
DOI: 10.36253/techne-16560
Abstract
This paper aims to define a methodological framework and an operational approach for optimizing the location, shape, and size of trees (or other NbS) within the surrounding urban morphology to locally reduce the urban heat island (UHI) effect and identify correlations between urban configurations and NbS performance. The goal is to overcome current limitations, which include the lack of a systematic approach to maximizing NbS performance in locally mitigating UHI. Based on the model of the urban canyon, the proposed theoretical and computational approach includes the definition of key performance indicators and their calculation to implement a multi-objective optimization.
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IMPACT OF SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENTS AND VEGETATION ON WIND COMFORT ASSESSMENT OF A NEW TOWER WITH VERTICAL GREEN PARK
Journal Paper
Authors: A. Ricci a,b,*, M. Guasco c, F. Caboni b, M. Orlanno c, A. Giachetta c, MP Repetto b
a Building Physics and Services, Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
b Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
c Department of Architecture and Design, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
b Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
c Department of Architecture and Design, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
October 2021
Building and Environment
Abstract
The modern architectural concept of “vertical forest” boosts the tendency to include permeable and green spaces in buildings and their surroundings. However, whilst green spaces generally make buildings and cities more eco-friendly, it is insufficiently known to what extent the surrounding environment and the vegetation may positively or negatively influence the pedestrian-level wind comfort quality of buildings amidst historical and well-settled urban layouts. This was the scope of the present study for which wind-tunnel (WT) testing and 3D RANS simulations were performed on two facing towers in Medellìn (Colombia), in order to (i) investigate the wind field and the pedestrian-level wind comfort around the towers; (ii) to compare the performance of WT and 3D RANS for wind comfort analysis; (iii) to evaluate the impact of the environment surrounding the two towers and (iv) the mitigation effects of vegetation on wind comfort. WT tests were performed on a scaled model (1:250) without an surrounding, for 12 wind directions and 3 sets of measurement positions. The same case study without (ie CFDs) and with (ie CFDd) surrounding environment was simulated by 3D RANS. Next, an implemented CFDd case including vegetation (ie, CFDd-V) was simulated for three LAD values. Overall, the surroundings had a significant impact on wind comfort assessment. The CFD case showed a better-quality class than WT and CFDs. The CFDs and WT cases showed a satisfactory agreement and a similar comfort quality class. The vegetation provided a remarkable improvement in comfort quality class, mainly for sets 1 and 2.
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DESIGN OPTIMIZATION OF A BUILDING ATTACHED SUNSPACE THROUGH EXPERIMENTAL MONITORING AND DYNAMIC MODELING
Journal Paper
Authors: Martina Guasco 1, Martina Orlanno 1, Chiara Piccardo 2, Andrea Giachetta 1, Ambrose Dodoo 2*
1 Department of Architecture and Design, University of Genoa, 16123 Genoa, Italy
2 Faculty of Technology, Linnaeus University, SE-35195 Växjö, Sweden
2 Faculty of Technology, Linnaeus University, SE-35195 Växjö, Sweden
Abstract
In Europe, buildings are responsible for 40% of the energy consumption and 36% of the CO 2 emissions. Space heating largely contributes to these energy and climate impacts. Passive solar heating systems, as sunspaces, can contribute to increasing solar heat gains, reducing space heating energy demand and the related use of fossil fuels. Careful design and local climatic considerations are essential to optimize the performance of sunspaces. In this study, experimental field monitoring, dynamic modeling and steady-state methods are applied to analyze the thermal behavior of an attached sunspace in an existing Italian building, as well as its potential contribution to the building's energy balance. Design modifications for improved thermal performance of the sunspace are being investigated. The results show overall agreement between the dynamic modeling and experimental monitoring of the sunspace and indicate that the sunspace's indoor air temperature and hence solar energy gains are significantly increased with the design modifications, in contrast to the existing configuration. Maximum temperatures between 44 and 48 °C were observed for the existing and a modified alternative of the analyzed sunspace. The dynamic simulation model and design modifications presented in this study can serve as a basis for assessment and optimal configurations of sunspaces in their design stage.
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CONFERENCE PAPERS
Ricci A., Guasco M., Caboni F., Orlanno M., Repetto MP, Giachetta A.” Wind comfort assessment of a newly designed tower with a vertical green park. ” ACWE 2022 - 14th Americas Conference on Wind Engineering, National Wind Institute - Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA, May 17-19, 2022.
Conference website: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/nwi/14ACWE/
Caboni F., Guasco M., Orlanno M., Ricci A., Freda A., Repetto MP, Giachetta A. “Experimental and numerical analyzes for the comfort optimization of a newly designed tall building.” BBAA IX - The 9th International Colloquium on Bluff Body Aerodynamics and Applications, University of Birmingham, UK, July 20-23, 2020.
Website: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/mds-cpd/conferences/bbaa-2020/index.aspx - *CANCELLED DUE TO COVID PANDEMIC
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martina.guasco@edu.unige.it
mart.guasco@gmail.com
No. 4773 - OA . GE
VAT number: 02720290994
Berlin (DE), Genoa (IT), Copenaghen (DK)
Practice portfolio on request
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