Regenerative Digital Design and Innovative Processes to Define Predictive Models: Workflow on Climate Scenarios

The phigital approach – physical and digital – to regenerative design represents the best synthesis between theory and practice in the contemporary era, in cutting-edge research particularly focused on the study of climate vulnerability, for the adaptive and transformative design of the built environment. Predictive and declarative design demonstrates its particular effectiveness through the optimisation of scale, the use of parametric and simulation tools, and digital regenerative design. This paper addresses, from a theoretical and methodological perspective, the themes and insights that have guided the PNRR T4Y applied research activities for Pilot 4.7.1 with actions 8, 9. The text is to be considered an advancement of the author’s scientific treatise on emerging technologies for regenerative design (2022–2023), with subsequent elaborations of competitive research trajectories (2023–2025). In the application phase, it proposes a particular examination of concepts related to information processes with “workflow” and the use of “predictive parameter tools”, in order to provide useful information for technological and environmental innovation actions, in application of regenerative design and in scenarios of declared climate vulnerability. This methodology was applied in the experimental phase of the research for the case studies of Palizzi (natural heritage, coastal area) and Bova (cultural heritage, urban and building area). In the Design and Prototyping sections of the ABITAlab university laboratory, part of the Department of Architecture and Design at the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, studies and experiments were conducted, producing both digital and physical prototypes (3D printing), described in a high-information Digital Atlas as a decision support system (Lucanto, Hanida, 2025). They where produced images, navigable models, interoperable data and multi-level information for an open knowledge user profiling platform capable of translating structural and environmental impacts on natural and historical heritage, developing solutions for the safety of territories and communities, with projections to 2030, 2050 in urban areas and up to 2085, 2100 in coastal areas.