Playing for urban climate resilience

The paper explores the outcomes of the Design for Climate Resilience seminar, part of the Master of Science in Architectural Sustainability at Politecnico di Torino. The seminar integrates teaching and research to address urban challenges posed by climate change, focusing on Urban Heat Island effects, extreme weather, and heavy rainfall. Through role-play, student groups represent leaders of climate-vulnerable nations and develop mitigation and adaptation strategies for selected cities based on 2050 climate scenarios. The groups redesign urban spaces to reduce heatwaves and rainwater runoff by emphasising Green Infrastructures, Nature-Based Solutions, and Sustainable Drainage Systems. This paper summarises key strategies and design proposals developed during recent academic years.