Irene from CALL at Zhejiang University for ZJU–POLIMI summer school

This July, Irene from CALL, had the great opportunity to join the ZJU–POLIMI Joint Summer School “Sustainable Smart Cities and Architecture” in Hangzhou, within the framework of the collaboration between Zhejiang University (浙江大学) and AUIC School – Scuola di Architettura Urbanistica e Ingegneria delle Costruzioni at Politecnico di Milano. A great way to contribute to the programme, working closely with an international cohort of students from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds.

The programme combined inspiring lectures, among others by Sandro Balducci, Jean Hillier, Yue Wu and Ali Cheshmehzangi, fieldwork and design studio activities around the transformation of the Grand Canal Corridor, creating a space for discussion across planning, architecture, urban design, digital technologies and sustainability, while offering the chance to engage directly with the Chinese urban context. A fantastic opportunity to look at familiar questions from a different perspective.

Many thanks to the whole team at Zhejiang University, and especially to Cui Liu for coordinating such a stimulating programme. Thanks also to Xunzhi Yin and Yiqiao Sun for their support and hospitality throughout the Summer School, and to Kevin Santus and the students, whose curiosity and engagement contributed greatly to the quality of the discussions.

We are grateful for these experiences, that reflect CALL’s commitment to fostering international exchange and cross-cultural dialogue in research and education.