The roots of the urban bioregion in the thinking of Patrick Geddes: from knowledge to citizens’ involvement to build a new living

The urban bioregion model is deeply anchored in the Geddesian thought. In this contribution I will define those elements of Geddes thought that I consider fundamental for the definition of the bioregional approach: the (contextual) critique of a model of settlement and development, the personality of place as the foundation of self-sustainable development, an inter-connected and multidisciplinary vision of the science of territory, real “eutopias” and the proactive role of the inhabitants in their construction. I will illustrate these four points and argue their links with bioregional approaches following the red thread mainly represented by Geddes’ essays, referring in particular to “Cities in Evolution” and to the reports from India. In the light of this reading, I will conclude this contribution through the identification of some possible progress to be made in the urban bioregionalism approach, in order to proceed on the path of action-research outlined by Geddes: a renewed consideration of the role of historical territorial heritages which “self-sustainability” should be read not only in environmental terms but also in economic and social ones; a new glance on the city, with particular reference to the built fabric of the entire city and, moreover, of that affected by marginalization process.