Barbara Gherri

Barbara Gherri is an Associate Professor in Architectural Engineering at the Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, where she has been a faculty member since 2017. She holds a PhD in "Form and Structure for Architecture" from the same university and completed a traineeship at TU Darmstadt. She is licensed as an architect and Energy Assessor in the Emilia Romagna Region.

Her research is focused on enhancing urban and building resilience to climate change through Nature-Based Solutions and passive bioclimatic design. Key areas include daylighting assessment (static and dynamic methods), sustainable use of innovative and vernacular materials, energy-performance design, and retrofit strategies for existing buildings. She has authored two books on daylight assessment and numerous journal publications.

The recent publications (2025) reflect a strong trend in climate-responsive architectural design, particularly in historical urban contexts and educational buildings. Her work integrates environmental modeling, microclimate simulation, and sustainable material innovation, with a focus on practical retrofit applications and heritage conservation. Topics span daylighting, prefabrication, cloister resilience, and urban adaptability in Southern Europe.

She has been recognized as an invited speaker at major international events including Light Fair International (2011, Philadelphia) and the 4th VELUX Daylight Symposium (2011, Lausanne). Her books are held in prestigious university libraries worldwide, including Stanford, Harvard, Loughborough, and the Library of Congress.

Barbara Gherri supervises various postgraduate and undergraduate courses in sustainable architecture, materials, and building technology. She also serves as the Rector’s Delegate for Sustainable Construction at the University of Parma, highlighting her leadership in institutional sustainability initiatives. She has not received specific scientific awards mentioned in the text, but her international presence and publication record reflect significant scholarly impact.

She is actively involved in research lines related to ecosystem health, decarbonization, human health, and climate change adaptation in historical buildings. Her work often involves simulation-based assessment and interdisciplinary approaches to urban and architectural sustainability.