Emanuele Ortolan (Parma, 19 February 1988) is an architect and researcher. He obtained a PhD in Architectural and Urban Design in 2023 at the Department of Engineering and Architecture of the University of Parma (CEAR-09/A, formerly ICAR/14).
Since July 2023, he has been a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Parma, where he works on sustainable territorial systems, with a specific focus on the role of autonomous mobility at the large scale. He has previously held positions as Research Fellow, Visiting Graduate (Laureato Frequentatore), and Cultore della Materia, carrying out research, teaching, coordination, and tutoring activities within architectural and urban design studios and workshops.
Since 2025, he has been a member of the Graduation Committees in Architecture and Sustainable Cities and a Contract Professor in the Master’s Degree Programme in Architecture and Sustainable Cities (LM-4) at the University of Parma. His teaching activities include modules in architectural composition, form and construction, and urban design within design and planning studios.
He graduated in Architecture in 2017 from the University of Parma with a thesis entitled "Parma Città Futura. Cittadella. Un percorso ciclopedonale urbano protetto lungo le mura tra la città storica e la fortezza pentagonale, attraverso un nuovo tratto del parco archeologico farnesiano", focused on a protected urban pedestrian and cycling route connecting the historic city and the Farnese fortress.
His research interests concern architectural composition and urban design for regeneration, with particular attention to social implications and the impact of enabling technologies related to the City 4.0 on the future form of cities. Since 2017, he has participated in 26 research projects and is a member of the Smart City 4.0 Sustainable Lab, an interdisciplinary and inter-university network involving over 290 researchers from several universities in Emilia-Romagna. The Lab develops shared strategic guidelines for urban development in collaboration with municipalities, public institutions, companies, and stakeholders.
He has also conducted applied research through agreements and contracts with public and private bodies, contributing to strategic urban projects and regeneration guidelines for numerous municipalities in Emilia-Romagna.
He is a Professor in the Second-Level Master’s Programme in Urban Regeneration at the University of Parma and has been involved in advanced training programmes promoted by national institutions. Since 2021, he has coordinated and tutored advanced training courses within "The City School", focused on the City of People 4.0, autonomous mobility, and smart urban systems. For the 2025–2026 biennium, he serves as curator and Professor for advanced training courses funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region.
He is the author of 75 scientific publications, including essays and book chapters, published at national and international level on architectural design and urban regeneration. Alongside his academic activity, he is actively involved in editorial work as Editorial Contributor for MUP Editore, Managing Editor of "The City Project" series published by Springer, and member of the Editorial Board of the "Bianco" series by LetteraVentidue.
Licensed as an Architect (Section A) since 2020, he combines academic work with professional practice, collaborating with architectural firms and participating in public design competitions. He won a two-stage anonymous design competition for the architectural and urban regeneration of public spaces in Lesignano de’ Bagni (PR) and received an honourable mention in 2025 for an urban regeneration ideas competition in Borgo Virgilio (MN).