ARCOPLAN AT SUM 2026: DISCUSSING CIRCULAR ARCHITECTURE

From May 21st to 23rd, against the striking backdrop of Palazzo D’Avalos in Procida, SUM 2026 took place—the 9th International Multidisciplinary Symposium on Circular Economy and Urban Mining. This world-class event annually brings together over 200 experts from more than 30 countries and diverse research disciplines to discuss sustainability, resource management, and circular economy strategies applied to local areas.

In this prestigious context, we participated as speakers, sharing our expertise in applying circular economy principles to landscape design and territorial regeneration. During the symposium, we presented a recovery and redevelopment project for a former quarry, based on reshaping existing morphologies and the functional reuse of the area through the placement of compatible materials. This intervention serves as a concrete interpretation of circular economy principles, transforming a disused site into a new opportunity for the local territory while experimenting with the concept of a “sink” for final storage and material valorization on land.

Our participation in SUM 2026, however, extended beyond our scientific contribution. We also oversaw the graphic design and setup of the conference spaces, developing a concept capable of translating the symposium’s values into a coherent and engaging visual experience. To bring the conference spaces to life, we chose to involve local artisans and businesses from Procida who, through the recovery and reinterpretation of materials, gave tangible form to the principles of the circular economy.