Michela Comba

Michela Comba is an Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture and Design (DAD) at the Polytechnic University of Turin. She holds the scientific disciplinary sector CEAR-11/A - History of Architecture within Area 0008 - Civil Engineering and Architecture. Her academic career spans multiple teaching appointments across doctoral programs and undergraduate courses, demonstrating sustained engagement with architectural education at Italy's premier technical university.

Her research interests focus on architectural history and theory, with particular emphasis on the relationship between engineering and architectural design processes throughout the twentieth century. Comba investigates how engineering contributions shaped urban development and territorial transformations, especially in Turin during its industrial growth period. Her scholarly work explores historical narratives of architecture through multiple lenses including urban fabric analysis, historical preservation, and the evolution of architectural thought.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent thematic focus on Turin's architectural heritage, particularly examining industrial sites like the Lingotto complex and post-industrial urban spaces. Her work demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches that bridge architectural history with urban sociology, examining how physical spaces reflect social and economic transformations. The publications show increasing attention to deindustrialized sites and their emotional and spatial significance in contemporary urban contexts.

As a supervisor, Comba guides doctoral research including Marco Celenza's work on post-earthquake reconstruction in Southern Italy. Her grant activity centers on commercial research contracts related to archive management and valorization, particularly with engineering firms' historical collections. These projects demonstrate practical applications of her historical expertise to contemporary archival challenges.

Comba serves on the Scientific Committee for Franco Angeli's series on History and historiography of architecture and the city since 2017, contributing to scholarly discourse in her field through editorial leadership. Her teaching portfolio spans multiple academic levels, from undergraduate laboratories to doctoral supervision, indicating comprehensive engagement with architectural education.