Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Built Environments: Integrating Circular Materials, Green Infrastructures, and Smart Technologies
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 622
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biodeterioration and conservation of stone materials; ecology of mediterranean plants; green roofs; botanical planning in urban and archaeological areas; valorization of tangible and intangible cultural heritage
Interests: structural optimization for large canopies and high-rise buildings; low-damage timber buildings; vulnerability assessment of masonry buildings; reused-based design for steel structures; 3D-printing for cultural heritage
Interests: circular design for architecture; sustainable urban regeneration; material resource efficiency; reuse and recycling of materials in the construction sector; circularity indicators for building materials; connections between circularity, mitigation and adaptation to climate change in urban environments
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The construction sector is responsible for a significant levels of energy consumption, greenhouse gas production, and waste generation, and the reduction of these is one of the main challenges of ecological transition and urban regeneration. Within this framework, the development of models of built-up areas should be reconsidered, adopting solutions that reduce environmental impact, enhance local resources, and improve ecological effectiveness and quality of life. In this framework, this Special Issue seeks to gather together papers that discuss novel methodologies and technologies for sustainable architecture and urban environments, with particular focus on circular materials, low-carbon building solutions, and smart ecological infrastructures as well as the correct approach to the botanical selection of green infrastructures that favor different ecosystem services. Papers analyzing novel, interdisciplinary, and multi-scale approaches to circular and efficient resource management, the ecological effectiveness of buildings from a life cycle perspective, and smart green infrastructures are welcome. We invite contributions on circular materials, the reuse of building components, structural optimization, life cycle approaches, smart building envelopes, urban botany and ecology, and nature-inspired solutions with a bias towards an integrated and comprehensive strategy for sustainable urban planning and building design.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Giulia Caneva
Dr. Valentina Tomei
Prof. Dr. Paola Altamura
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- smart green infrastructures
- low-carbon solutions
- sustainable building design
- urban ecology
- ecosystem services
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