Bianca Maria Rinaldi

Bianca Maria Rinaldi is an Associate Professor in Landscape Architecture at the Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST), Politecnico di Torino, where she contributes to teaching, research, and academic leadership. She is actively involved in multiple PhD programs including Urban and Regional Development and Architectural Heritage, and teaches core courses such as Tools and Methods of Landscape Architecture and Designing with Nature-Based Solutions.

Her research interests focus on landscape architecture, urban and regional planning, cultural heritage, urban biodiversity, and sustainable cities. She explores the intersection of historical design traditions—especially the Chinese garden—with contemporary urban challenges, advocating for nature-based solutions and resilient urban landscapes. Her work emphasizes socio-ecological integration, heritage preservation, and climate-responsive design.

The analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on urban landscapes in high-density environments, the role of tradition in modern design, and strategies for enhancing biodiversity through landscape architecture. Her research spans comparative international studies, particularly between Italy and Asia, and addresses both theoretical and applied dimensions of urban sustainability.

• The John Brinckerhoff Jackson Book Prize (2012)
• Fellow, Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation (2016–2019)
• Fellow, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library & Collection, Harvard University (2012–2013)
• Advisory Board Member, Landscape History Chapter, Society of Architectural Historians (2023–)
• Scientific Committee Member, Journal of Landscape Architecture (2021–); TOPSCAPE PAYSAGE (2020–)

She has supervised PhD students such as Manuela Ronci and leads significant research grants, including projects funded by PNRR, the Compagnia di San Paolo, and internal Politecnico di Torino programs. Her leadership roles include Principal Investigator for projects like Hidden Waters: an Atlas of Urban Landscapes and Paesaggi di Coesistenza, focusing on urban biodiversity and multispecies coexistence. She also collaborates internationally, having served as Visiting Researcher at Leibniz Universität Hannover and co-leading joint research with institutions in Singapore and Japan. She is actively engaged in editorial work and major conferences such as Biotopia and Urban Landscapes in High-Density Cities.

Rinaldi is a key figure in landscape architecture research and education, contributing to academic discourse through publications, international fellowships, and leadership in multidisciplinary research teams and editorial boards.