Dalledificio

Dalledificio is a term that appears in some Italian architectural discourse to describe a particular analytical approach to buildings. It is a neologism formed by dall' (from the) and edificio (building), signaling a focus that treats a building as the product of, and participant in, wider technical, social, and urban processes.

The term is used to designate an integrative method of analysis: researchers trace design decisions across structure, envelope, services, and spatial organization to understand how these choices influence performance, experience, and relationships with neighboring spaces and communities. The aim is to connect details to outcomes rather than study isolated aspects.

Dalledificio is not widely standardized and appears mainly in theoretical or pedagogical settings in the 2010s to present. Its usage varies by author, with some emphasizing energy and material performance, others foregrounding social or civic implications.

Applications include the analysis of renovation projects, new-builds, and urban-scale reconstructions, where practitioners map the decision chain from concept to fabrication to use, identifying how changes in one domain propagate across the system.

Critics argue that the term overlaps with existing concepts such as building performance, systems thinking, and design thinking, and that without clearer definition it risks vagueness. Proponents see it as a heuristic to encourage holistic thinking. Related terms include building performance, systems thinking, and architecture theory. Note that as a coined term, definitions and emphasis may vary among authors and educational contexts.