Natural elements in building design: the Italian policies

The positive relationship between men and nature is widely recognized. During the last century, several studies have assessed the benefits of natural elements in the building design. To date, the scientific information is very wide, showing benefits of building’s greenery, both for environment and people. This awareness, combined with the attractiveness of nature, has led to the construction of buildings in which the natural elements play a fundamental role. In Italy, there are many examples of greenery in prestigious buildings but not in the common ones. In view of the potential benefits of greenery systems, greater efforts should be done to promote them. This paper aims to provide the state of the art of the Italian policies addressed to introduce the natural elements in building design. This knowledge can be helpful to identify the strengths of Italian policies, the steps to be to strengthen and the new ones to be taken.