Progettare spazi pubblici adattivi al clima nelle zone critiche

In the current context of climate crisis, architectural design is increasingly called upon to address the transformation of fragile urban and territorial areas, integrating cultural heritage with strategies of environmental resilience. This article explores the role of adaptive reuse in marginal contexts as a means of responding to the dual urgency of climate adaptation and sustainable urban regeneration. Starting from the 2020 flood event in Altamura (Bari, Italy), the design lab coordinated by Professor Ina Macaione at University of Basilicata engaged with the city’s hydrological vulnerabilities by developing site-specific proposals based on the concept of watersquare, urban devices that combine stormwater management with the enhancement of public space. Three projects are presented as experimental responses to these challenges, aiming to transform climate-related risks into opportunities for ecological and social reconnection. The work highlights how reuse, when framed within a systemic and climate-conscious perspective, can act as a catalyst for innovation in both design practice and didactic experimentation.