PoliTO at SCUT Global Summer School 2025

Through its Department of Architecture and Design (DAD), PoliTO has reaffirmed its commitment to the internationalization of research by actively participating in the 2025 SCUT Global Summer School of Emerging Engineering, hosted by the South China University of Technology (SCUT) in Guangzhou from 7 to 11 July.

The SCUT Summer School 2025 offered an intensive international academic experience aimed at enhancing competencies in a wide range of technical and socio-economic disciplines, including engineering, architecture, computer science, economics, environmental sciences, and the humanities. Its core mission is to foster advanced education and intercultural exchange among students from diverse academic and geographical backgrounds.

Politecnico’s delegation was led by Professor Francesco Novelli (Co-Director of the China Center), and included Daniele Dabbene (Research Fellow in Architectural Restoration), Alessio Martino (PhD student in Architectural Heritage), and Siyi Liu (PhD student in Architecture. History and Project). Representing the Centre for Conservation and Restoration “La Venaria Reale”, Dr Paola Buscaglia (Head of Department and Coordinator of the Wood Sculpture Laboratory) also joined the delegation.

The group represented its respective institutions in a series of key academic activities, including institutional meetings, thematic study days, and lectures as part of the dedicated program entitled Frontiers of Heritage Innovation.

SCUT hosted the international summer school

On July 7^th and 8^th, the delegation took part in study days focusing on the architectural heritage of Guangzhou. During these events, Professor Haohao Xu, together with other scholars and practitioners, presented current practices and strategies in the conservation of Chinese cultural sites. Guided visits included landmark sites such as the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, the Nanyue Kingdom Palace, and Yuyin Mountain Garden. The architect Zhang Jianing, collaborator of Professor Xu, also shared their direct experience of restoration work at the Bijiang Traditional Village in Foshan, outlining both the challenges and future directions for safeguarding and enhancing such cultural assets.

On July 9^th, the group visited the Wushan Campus, where recent SCUT projects related to heritage and architecture were presented. In the afternoon, Professor Novelli and Dr Buscaglia delivered lectures addressing current academic and professional approaches to restoration. This was followed by a roundtable discussion with SCUT faculty and PhD candidates focusing on architectural conservation, with the aim of identifying shared objectives and exploring future collaborative opportunities. During the event, Professor Novelli formally proposed the establishment of a Heritage Academy, a collaborative platform involving Politecnico di Torino, SCUT, and the Centre for Conservation and Restoration “La Venaria Reale”. The initiative aims to offer both theoretical and practical training on the restoration of cultural heritage, specifically targeted at professionals and experts in the field, and is grounded in a multidisciplinary approach that integrates the expertise of architects, diagnostic specialists, and conservators.

On July 10^th, the delegation visited the Historic City Conservation Institute of the Guangzhou Urban Planning & Design Institute, where institutional meetings were held with Director Mr. Yongsheng Sun and Deputy Director Ms. Zhaozhao Yi, providing the opportunity to present the Heritage Hub concept and to explore potential avenues for partnership.

By actively engaging in these initiatives, the Politecnico di Torino continues to strengthen its international partnerships and to promote innovation in architectural education, conservation practices, and cultural heritage management on a global scale.