Affordable housing has become one of the most crucial sectors of recent years, with its importance in Italy increasingly growing.

The ULI Italy Annual Conference 2020 opened with a speech by Davide Albertini Petroni (ULI Italy Chair), who outlined the ambitions of the event: create discussion, provide suggestions, and catalyse innovation.

First on the agenda was the presentation of the ULI Report Promoting Housing Affordability by Lisette van Doorn (CEO, ULI Europe). Using a range of examples, the presentation provided insight into best practice and lessons learnt in delivering affordable housing.

Keynote speaker Nic Palmarini (Director of UK’s National Centre for Ageing) tackled the topic of an ever-growing ageing population. The presentation focused on how our ways of living are affected by this phenomenon and the need to look at it as an opportunity, rather than a threat.

An international panel discussion followed, with speakers sharing their experience and knowledge of affordable housing, highlighting their personal ideas of innovation in this evolving field. The dialogue was moderated Jacopo della Fontana (D2U Design to Users) who also guided the second panel discussion, where Italian speakers analysed innovation in the sector of living, looking more closely at the local context. Case studies and a sharing of opinions drove the discussion in this second round table, where one of the key takeaways was the extent to which technology and scientific progress are fostering innovation in the sector of living.

If on the one hand, the residential asset class is facing a slower and later change when compared to others, such as office and retail, on the other hand, it provides new opportunities and new challenges, requiring integrated approaches and new professional figures.

Speakers attending the conference:

Davide Albertini Petroni, Chair ULI Italy; Lisette van Doorn, CEO, ULI Europe; Nic Palmarini, Director of UK’s National Centre for Ageing; Charlie McGregor, Founder The Student Hotel; Lorna Walker, Chief Operating Officer and Head of ESG at Modomo; Jack Renteria, Founder, CEO at Generation Global; Nigel Allsopp, Senior Director Investment Strategy & Research at Greystar; Fabio Santini, Director One Commercial Div.Partner Microsoft Italy; Arch. Davide Ruzzon, Director TUNED; Dott. Pietro Adduci, CEO Tecma Solutions; Arch. Mario Cucinella, Hon FAIA, Int.Fellow RIBA, Mario Cucinella Architects.

Moderator: Jacopo della Fontana, D2U Design to Users