“"Both Pompeii and Hangzhou are cities born from nature and integrated with it." With these words, Paolo Vincenzo Genovese, architect and professor at Zhejiang University, summarizes the meaning of a centuries-old dialogue between Hangzhou and Pompeii between geographically distant but always related cultures. In a recent interview with China News Service, the Italian expert explained how the ruins of ancient Rome and the landscapes of West Lake share a common idea of beauty and relationship with time. This leads to a broader reflection on cultural exchanges between Italy and China, which this study explores through his experience. A professor of Civil Engineering and Architecture at Zhejiang University, Genovese has lived and worked in China for over twenty years. During this time, he has participated in numerous restoration projects, helping to unite traditional approaches and contemporary visions. His perspective, developed between East and West, is reflected in a clear idea: Civilizations dialogue through the traces that time leaves on places. A concept that emerges forcefully when comparing Pompeii and Hangzhou. Two UNESCO-recognized sites, both express a profound balance between humanity and the environment.
Paolo Vincenzo Genovese, the Italian architect who unites Pompeii and Hangzhou in "Traces of Time": the exhibition
The recent exhibition at the West Lake Museum in Hangzhou, "Dialogue with Pompeii: Masterpieces from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples," closed after displaying over 100 Neapolitan artifacts. Opened on September 30, 2025, and running until March 8, 2026, it was attended by Italian authorities such as Deputy Consul Stefania Mortelliti. During the symposium, Genovese shared photos of the Pompeii ruins, noting similarities to traditional Chinese urban planning: four main axes, walls, and gates. Gazing at Vesuvius from the ruins, Genovese felt "a sense of reverence toward nature," echoing the Hangzhou landscape. Frescoes, sculptures, and ceramics immersed visitors in the charm of Pompeii, strengthening ties between the West Lake Museum and the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. This event, celebrating the museum's twentieth anniversary, promoted shared conservation.
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Genovese's Journey: From Milan to China
Paolo Vincenzo Genovese, a PhD from the Polytechnic University of Milan, arrived in China in 2004 as a full professor at Tianjin University, before continuing his career at Zhejiang University. Over the years, he has established himself as a leading expert in his field, focusing on bionic architecture, restoration, eco-villages, and the application of artificial intelligence to urban design. Among the most significant projects he has contributed to is the restoration of Emperor Puyi's residence in Tianjin. His experience in the region is particularly significant. Over the course of over twenty years, he has visited hundreds of traditional villages, part of a vast heritage that includes approximately 9,000 still existing.
This work has allowed him to closely observe the protection and enhancement policies implemented, recognizing their commitment to preserving these local identities. Author of volumes such as "Harmony in Space: Introduction to Chinese Architecture," Genovese pursues a vision that integrates conservation and sustainable development. The main challenge today remains to find a balance between safeguarding cultural heritage and economic growth, without compromising the authenticity of the places. For this reason, his research on eco-villages and poverty reduction models has earned him recognition as a foreign expert at the national level.
Traces of Time: A shared reverence for nature and beauty
The ruins of Pompeii and the landscapes of Hangzhou each tell, in their own way, the story of the passage of time and evoke emotions that transcend geographical boundaries. According to Genovese, a common thread links these experiences: beauty as a universal language. It is precisely this dialogue between humanity and nature that guides his work, which ranges from the restoration of historic sites to sustainable urban planning. In China, he has participated in projects aimed at enhancing traditional villages, viewing them not only as testimonies of the past, but as fundamental resources for the future. This approach places authenticity and cultural identity at the center. This intercultural harmony also contributes to strengthening relations between Italy and China, visible in academic collaborations and shared cultural initiatives. The message that emerges is simple yet profound: living the present with awareness and recognizing the value of beauty in everyday life, a lesson that spans eras and civilizations.