In 2013, when the concept of "smart buildings" was still in its infancy, Professor Yacine Rezgui, Nick Tune and a team of forward-thinking scientists gathered through the BRE Centre at Cardiff University to address a critical question:  

What technologies and methodologies would be needed to create truly net zero buildings?  

This question became the foundation for OptimiseAI, and to pushing the boundaries of intelligent building systems. 

A decade later, that same visionary approach continues to drive our work as Professor Rezgui now leads AntifragiCity—a groundbreaking €4 million research initiative funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe programme. 

Beyond Resilience: The Concept of Antifragility 

The AntifragiCity project introduces a revolutionary concept to urban planning and development. While resilience focuses on a system's ability to recover from disruption, antifragility describes systems that actually improve and grow stronger when faced with volatility and stress. 

"In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis, and ongoing conflicts in Europe, cities are facing unprecedented challenges," explains Professor Rezgui. "AntifragiCity is about harnessing these disruptions as catalysts for positive change, building urban systems that adapt, learn, and emerge stronger." 

This innovative approach represents the next evolution in smart city technology—moving beyond reactive measures to create proactive urban environments that continuously evolve and improve through challenges. 

Global Collaboration for Urban Intelligence 

The scale and scope of the AntifragiCity project reflect OptimiseAI's commitment to collaborative innovation, especially with and through University and City Institutions.  

The project brings together 13 partners from seven countries, including the Municipality of Odessa in Ukraine, ETH Zurich, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research. 

This diverse consortium ensures that the project benefits from a wide range of perspectives and expertise, addressing the complex challenges of urban development through a multidisciplinary lens. 

Technology Meets Human Experience 

A distinguishing feature of the AntifragiCity approach is the integration of technological solutions with social considerations. The project views transportation systems not merely as infrastructure but as dynamic networks deeply embedded in social and environmental contexts. 

"By integrating technology with local knowledge and citizen participation, we aim to pave the way to sustainable cities that are not only resilient but truly antifragile," says Professor Rezgui. 

This socio-technical approach ensures that urban transformations are co-designed with the people they impact most, creating solutions that are both technologically advanced and humanly relevant. 

Real-World Implementation 

Theory becomes practice as the AntifragiCity methodologies will be applied in pilot programs across three European cities: 

Odessa, Ukraine: Testing antifragile principles in a city facing immediate geopolitical challenges 

Bratislava, Slovakia: Exploring sustainable mobility solutions in a rapidly developing urban center 

Larissa, Greece: Implementing adaptive systems in a Mediterranean climate context 

These pilot programs will serve as living laboratories, helping to refine the antifragility methodology and support knowledge-sharing across European cities. 

Looking Ahead: The Future of Built Environments 

The AntifragiCity project represents Professor Yacine Rezgui’s ongoing commitment to creating intelligent, sustainable, and adaptive built environments. Optimise AI will additionally provide some AI technology solutions. This reflects OptimiseAI’s desire for net zero buildings and our desire to pioneer approaches that anticipate future challenges and opportunities. 

As cities worldwide face increasing pressures from climate change, population growth, resource constraints, and unexpected crises, the methodologies developed through AntifragiCity will provide valuable frameworks for urban areas seeking not just to survive these challenges, but to thrive because of them. 

The outcomes of this groundbreaking project are expected to influence city planning policy across Europe and beyond, offering scalable strategies for building communities that flourish in times of uncertainty— while continuing the forward-thinking legacy that has defined OptimiseAI since its inception.  

For more information about the AntifragiCity project or OptimiseAI's work in intelligent building systems, please contact hello@optimise-ai.com