MED_MESS. Diversity, Creative Entropy, and Mediterranean Informality Practices: Interdisciplinary and Interscalar Analysis of Urban Open Spaces as a Knowledge-Sharing Tool for the Cities’ Climate Resilience

The chapter delves into the fundamental role of Time in Environmental Design, highlighting how an increased awareness of this concept can lead to more sustainable design solutions. It explores the cultural and technological evolution of Time, distinguishing between linear and circular time perspectives and their implications for construction processes and product longevity. The text examines the processual and objectual spheres of Time, emphasizing the importance of long-term vision and the concatenation of cause and effect in design. It critiques the modernist focus on durability and advocates for a balanced approach between permanence and temporariness, integrating maintenance and maintainability into the design process. The chapter also discusses the contrast between linear and circular views of Time, using historical examples to illustrate their impact on architectural conservation and sustainability. Furthermore, it introduces the concepts of chronological and kairotic Time, advocating for an opportunistic attitude in Environmental Design that seizes opportunities for sustainable innovation. The myth of Daedalus and Icarus is used as a symbol of technological solutions, emphasizing the need for awareness of limits and the right measure in utilizing technology. The chapter concludes by urging a mix of responsibility and creativity in Environmental Design to navigate the challenges of the Anthropocene.