MILAN, Understanding the local context as the starting point for every real estate development project. Roberto Corbo, President of Corbo Group, spoke at the Forbes Real Estate Summit in Milan, held at Duomo Space, which brought together entrepreneurs and industry professionals to discuss the future of the property market, with a particular focus on urban regeneration, luxury real estate and emerging development models.
“Understanding the local context is the first step in any development project. Without that understanding, you cannot design effectively or recognise an area’s full potential,” Corbo emphasised during his speech. According to the President of Corbo Group, the ability to understand the distinctive characteristics of a place is fundamental to successful real estate development.
“A place should not simply be observed. It should be listened to. Developing property today means understanding an area’s needs, its distinctive strengths and its vulnerabilities, so that we can deliver projects that enhance quality of life and create tangible benefits for individuals and the wider community.”
This approach places the relationship between a building, its surroundings and the people who will inhabit it at the heart of the development process. For Corbo, wellbeing and social integration are two fundamental drivers of architectural design, rooted in his belief that “having a home is the most fundamental form of social dignity people seek”.
Building, therefore, begins with integration. As Corbo explained, this means “integrating a building into its surroundings, ensuring that it connects with the urban and social fabric, and designing spaces that respond to people’s genuine needs. A truly integrated home is one that can anticipate and adapt to the needs of its residents.”
Technology also has a clearly defined role within this vision, becoming part of the home without being intrusive. Corbo illustrated this concept by focusing on everyday residential living.
“Imagine software that uses data collected by the Building Management Systems (BMS) installed in a home to respond empathetically to the needs of its occupants, from indoor air quality and physical wellbeing to stress levels and lighting conditions.”
The home thus becomes a responsive environment, capable of collecting data, recognising the needs of its occupants and reacting proactively. Within this vision, Corbo believes artificial intelligence can be integrated into next-generation homes through three defining characteristics:
“Invisible, because you cannot see it. Predictive, because it anticipates your needs. Empathetic, because it takes care of you.”
