DomusAir: Energy, the Invisible Infrastructure

The latest issue of DomusAir explores energy as the invisible infrastructure shaping the future of cities, airports, and digital ecosystems. Electrification, artificial intelligence, geopolitical shifts, and the transformation of mobility networks are redefining the relationship between infrastructure, sustainability, and the built environment. 

Through analyses, interviews and international case studies, DomusAir no.16 approaches energy not simply as a technical resource, but as a strategic force influencing territories, economies and the way we design and operate the systems that support contemporary life. 

Overview: From molecules to electrons

Among the issue’s most significant contributions is a report by Dario Liguti and Iva Brkic of UNECE, exploring the complex balance between decarbonisation, energy security and infrastructure resilience across Europe, North America and Central Asia. Through data, infographics and analysis, the report outlines the scale of the transformation underway. While electricity currently represents around 20% of the region’s final energy mix, achieving climate neutrality by 2050 will require a substantial acceleration of electrification and a doubling of electricity demand.

Interview: Let’s not waste our energy

Questions of energy policy, industrial competitiveness and geopolitical stability take centre stage in a conversation between economic historian Giulio Sapelli of the ENI Enrico Mattei Foundation and Silvia Botti. Challenging the short-term logic that often characterises contemporary energy transitions, Sapelli advocates for technological neutrality, closer collaboration between institutions and businesses, and a stronger culture of energy efficiency. Rather than relying on subsidies and incentive schemes, he argues that the transition must be approached as a long-term historical process, guided by regulation, industrial strategy and a clear vision for the future.

AI and energy: from a problem to an ally

Artificial intelligence and data centres are emerging as major drivers of global electricity demand, raising new questions about the sustainability of the digital economy. With data-centre consumption expected to more than double by 2030, the article explores both the challenges and opportunities of this transformation. At the same time, it highlights the potential of AI to optimise power grids, improve industrial efficiency and accelerate the integration of renewable energy sources, positioning technology as part of the solution rather than simply part of the problem.

Infrastructure as landscape

The projects section highlights a selection of infrastructural interventions that are redefining the relationship between mobility, energy and the public realm.

Train station in the forest: Jiaxing Train Station

Among the featured projects is Jiaxing Train Station in China, designed by MAD. Conceived as a “train station in the forest” concept, the project challenges the conventional image of transport infrastructure by relocating most operational functions underground while restoring the site’s historic 1907 station building. Surrounded by more than 1,500 trees and equipped with solar-powered roofing, the station transforms a mobility hub into a new public landscape where architecture, ecology and infrastructure converge.

Between past and future: Athens International Airport

Another notable project is the expansion of Athens International Airport, designed by Grimshaw, Haptic and K-Studio. Responding to growing passenger demand while maintaining a strong connection to its context, the project will increase the airport’s capacity from 26 to 40 million passengers by 2033. Sustainability is embedded throughout the design, with modular façades, natural ventilation strategies and Mediterranean landscape integration contributing to the ambition of achieving LEED Gold certification.

Within the arch of time: Techo International Airport 

Set to become Cambodia’s new international gateway, Techo International Airport by Foster + Partners combines large-scale infrastructure with a strong sense of place. Inspired by the spatial qualities of traditional Khmer architecture, the project integrates modular roofing, natural daylight, rainwater harvesting and native vegetation into a climate-responsive design that looks to the future while remaining rooted in its local context. 

Last but not least, take-off by Giulio De Carli

The energy transition is presented as a challenge that extends far beyond technology. It calls for a holistic approach that brings together infrastructure, architecture, policy and territorial planning to address increasingly complex environmental, social and economic demands. Within this framework, airports emerge as strategic platforms where innovation, resilience and decarbonisation converge, offering a glimpse into the future of sustainable development.

Pick up your copy with the latest edition of Domus Magazine and follow some of the key stories at domusweb.it