Green GOOD DESIGN Sustainability Awards

The headquarters of the Levi-Montalcini Foundation aims to be an innovative and eco-sustainable center dedicated to showcasing and studying the work of Nobel Prize winner Rita Levi-Montalcini and her family. Piera Levi-Montalcini, President of the Foundation and niece of the Professor, is the creator and promoter of this project, consistently supporting initiatives related to her aunt and family. Designed by renowned architect Giancarlo Zema, known for his impactful eco-sustainable projects, the headquarters draws inspiration from the nervous system and plant root systems, echoing Levi-Montalcini's groundbreaking research on nerve growth factor (NGF) and her family's artistic contributions.

The circular building will rise amidst a Paulownia forest, known for its exceptional CO2 absorption capabilities. At the entrance, a display of interconnected nervous-root systems will provide real-time data on plant electrochemical exchanges, CO2 absorption rates, and oxygen production, symbolizing the Foundation's mission as an "interconnection center" of scientific and artistic knowledge. Large eco-cement 3D-printed trees will support a photovoltaic roof generating 200 kWp and harvesting rainwater for park irrigation. The roof will also feature a vertiport for electric passenger drones, enhancing forest observation.

Inside, expansive exhibition spaces will trace Rita Levi-Montalcini's life journey through galleries, documents, and videos, complemented by a panoramic café upstairs and a conference room and laboratories below. Embodying Sustainable Development Goals, the Foundation will be surrounded by 500 Paulownia trees, integrated with IoT sensors and analyzed via Machine Learning and blockchain technology. Each tree's health, soil conditions, and surrounding air quality will be monitored, contributing to biodiversity and carbon sequestration efforts.

Visitors will experience the forest's seasonal aromas, captured by Scent Company, and musical compositions generated by bioelectric activity, thanks to musician Simone Vitale. This holistic approach not only establishes the Foundation as an exhibition and research hub but also as a model of collaboration, technology use, and environmental stewardship. Positioned on a hectare of green space with bodies of water, the Levi-Montalcini Foundation will foster biodiversity, support migratory birds and pollinators, and serve as a beacon for sustainable living and education for future generations.