Architect Andrea Boschetti calls for ethical architecture and a new Italian law on urbanism post-COVID

In a letter published on Artribune, architect Andrea Boschetti argues that the COVID-19 pandemic should not lead to superficial design solutions like plexiglass partitions or oversized benches, but rather to a profound rethinking of the architect's ethical and social role. He criticizes the lack of a comprehensive Italian law on architecture and urban planning, which has been missing for decades, and calls for a unified effort among architects to push for structural legislation. Boschetti, who worked on Milan's PGT 2011 plan introducing the NIL (Nuclei d'Identità Locali) concept of self-sufficient neighborhoods, emphasizes that public space is the crucial battleground for reducing social inequalities. He advocates for a "sustainable revolution" that includes open cities, reduced car dependency, green spaces, and quality education, health, and housing. Boschetti warns against techno-solutionism and insists that cultural and humanistic progress must accompany technological innovation. He urges colleagues to collaborate rather than seek individual acclaim, and calls on civil society to participate in this transformation.