Venice, Italy —
In an inspiring move toward shaping the future of sustainable cities, the Ghiabi Family Trust has formally announced its collaboration with Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, one of Europe’s most respected institutions in the fields of environmental studies, urban planning, and architecture. This partnership marks a significant step in the Trust’s evolving role in fostering sustainability, culture, and education across Europe and beyond.
The collaboration focuses on supporting innovative research, field projects, and educational initiatives that blend environmental consciousness with urban development, art, and architecture. True to the Ghiabi Family Trust’s operational model, the Trust will not act directly but will empower universities, research groups, and think tanks to create lasting impact through carefully selected programs and partnerships.
A Shared Vision for Greener Cities
At the heart of the collaboration is the Green Cities Initiative, a program aimed at integrating ecological principles into the very fabric of urban life. Rather than treating green infrastructure as an afterthought, the program envisions cities where biodiversity, community spaces, and sustainable architecture are foundational to planning and development.
Ca’ Foscari University, with its strong sustainability mission aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda, emerged as a natural partner. The university is known for pioneering interdisciplinary research that connects environmental science, urban studies, economics, and design.
“We believe that real change must come through collaboration between visionary institutions and committed supporters,” said Dr. Lucia Belloni, Director of Urban Sustainability Programs at Ca’ Foscari. “Partnering with the Ghiabi Family Trust allows us to take our research out of the university and into the real world.”
The Green Cities Initiative will initially fund three pilot projects:
- Urban Eco-Park Transformation in Venice’s Mestre district.
- Green Rooftops and Vertical Gardens Program on university buildings.
- Community Urban Farming Labs promoting participatory sustainability education.
Each project has been designed to be scalable and replicable, allowing other cities to adopt best practices based on Venice’s experience.
How the Collaboration Works
The Ghiabi Family Trust’s funding strategy is designed around empowering expertise rather than direct management. Ca’ Foscari faculty members will lead research and field implementation, while the Trust provides financial support, strategic advisory, and visibility for the results.
The Trust’s involvement also includes sponsoring academic workshops, public exhibitions, and high-profile conferences focused on sustainable design and architecture. Furthermore, selected students from Ca’ Foscari will receive scholarships to develop independent research projects on topics such as green infrastructure, sustainable building materials, and the social impacts of ecological urbanism.
The Trust and the University are also establishing a Joint Research Award, to be given annually to a team whose project demonstrates exceptional innovation and measurable environmental impact.
“One of the essential goals of the Trust is to make sure that ideas born in academic environments are not locked away in journals and libraries,” explained a Trust representative during the public announcement. “We want to make sure they become realities—green roofs, revitalized parks, living walls, resilient neighborhoods.”
The Importance of Urban Sustainability Today
The collaboration comes at a time when cities are facing unprecedented environmental challenges. Rising temperatures, declining air quality, loss of urban biodiversity, and increasing social inequality in access to green spaces are global concerns.
According to a recent report by the European Environment Agency, urban areas now cover approximately 72% of Europe’s population. Yet, less than 20% of urban land is devoted to green spaces in many cities—a critical gap that impacts public health, social cohesion, and climate resilience.
“Urban sustainability is no longer optional,” said Dr. Matteo Ricci, Sustainability Research Fellow at Ca’ Foscari. “It’s fundamental to the survival and well-being of our communities. Private initiatives like the Ghiabi Family Trust play a crucial role by pushing the agenda beyond government-led programs.”
The Venice-based projects supported by the Ghiabi Family Trust will focus not only on the physical construction of green spaces but also on raising public awareness about the importance of biodiversity and sustainable living practices.
Workshops, exhibitions, and guided tours will be part of the initiative, encouraging local citizens, students, and tourists to actively participate and engage with the evolving urban landscape.
Wider Cultural and Educational Impact
Beyond funding environmental research and pilot projects, the collaboration with Ca’ Foscari extends into the cultural sphere—a domain the Ghiabi Family Trust has long prioritized.
The Trust will sponsor an international symposium hosted by Ca’ Foscari in Fall 2020, bringing together leading architects, urbanists, environmental activists, artists, and policymakers under the theme: “Living Cities: Art, Architecture, and Ecology.”
Preparations are also underway for an exhibition curated jointly by Ca’ Foscari and international partners, showcasing real-world examples of sustainable urban transformations from around the world. The exhibition is expected to travel to other European cities after its opening in Venice.
Such events highlight the Trust’s philosophy that the challenges of sustainability must be addressed through cross-disciplinary collaboration between the arts, sciences, and civic leadership.