On May 25, Dr. Marco Visconti, a renowned Italian architect and expert in sustainable design, visited Shantou University and delivered a fascinating academic lecture entitled “Sustainability in Practice: Projects between Context and Humanity”. The event was hosted by Professor Wang Yingzi, Program Director of Architecture. Teachers and students from the Department of Civil and Smart Construction Engineering, as well as students interested in architecture across the university, attended the lecture. After the lecture, Dr. Visconti held in-depth academic exchanges with faculty representatives of the college and architects from Shantou’s industry, discussing practices and development prospects between Italy and Shantou in architectural design and urban planning.

In his lecture, Dr. Visconti systematically elaborated on the core concepts and cutting-edge practices of sustainable architecture based on his extensive professional experience. He pointed out that genuine sustainable design is not merely a stack of technologies, but a harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, architecture and local context.

By presenting a series of iconic projects completed by his team worldwide in recent years, Dr. Visconti explained in detail how to integrate environmental technologies, energy efficiency and humanistic care under diverse regional and cultural backgrounds. From the Zucchetti Headquarters in Lodi, Italy, to green factories built for world-famous automakers such as Ferrari and Fiat, each case vividly illustrates the design philosophy of “people-oriented, coexisting with nature”.

The audience listened attentively and engaged in lively discussions with Dr. Visconti on hot topics including the application of sustainable materials and green renovation of old buildings. The venue was filled with an active and strong academic atmosphere.

After the lecture, Dr. Marco Visconti held a symposium with teachers from the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering of Shantou University and practicing architects in Shantou. The two sides had candid and constructive exchanges on architectural characteristics, urban renewal strategies between Italy and Shantou, as well as potential academic cooperation in the future.

Dr. Visconti spoke highly of Shantou University’s achievements in Chaoshan local architectural research and the cultivation of new architectural talents. He noted that as a famous hometown of overseas Chinese, Shantou boasts distinctive arcade culture and coastal urban features, which share similarities with many historical and cultural cities in Italy. There is huge potential for cooperation in the preservation of historical buildings and resilient development of coastal cities.

Faculty members agreed that Dr. Visconti’s visit brought international cutting-edge design concepts to the college and laid a solid foundation for joint teaching, workshops and research cooperation in the future.

At the end of the event, to express sincere welcome to Dr. Visconti, Teacher Gao Fei from the College of Engineering presented him with a special gift — an elaborately painted hand-drawn artwork of the arcades in Shantou Old Town (Xiaogongyuan).

The painting vividly depicts the iconic arcade complex in downtown Shantou, carrying the unique historical memory and urban warmth of the city. Dr. Visconti was delighted with the thoughtful gift. He stated that it is not only a precious souvenir but also a microcosm of Shantou’s urban culture. He would bring this friendship from China back to Italy and use it as a bond to promote deeper cultural and academic exchanges between the two regions.

Dr. Marco Visconti’s visit not only provided a high-level academic feast for teachers and students of Shantou University, but also broadened the college’s international academic vision, opening a new chapter for in-depth cooperation between China and Italy in the fields of architecture, planning and sustainable development