Title: De-globalisation and creativity: a contribution towards sustainable and intercultural architectures and cities

Authors: Massimo Clemente

Addresses: City and Architecture Group, Institute for Service Industry Research, National Research Council of Italy, Via Michelangelo Schipa 91, 80122 Naples, Italy; Department of Conservation of Architectural and Environmental Assets, University Federico II of Naples, Via Roma 402 80134 Naples, Italy

Abstract: History offers the opportunity to reflect about sustainability and creativity. Even though contexts and dynamics are specific to the period, sustainability and creativity have always been present in urban matters. After all, there has always been a reasonable use of resources. But in the contemporary age, the correct balance between the exploitation of resources and their availability may be lost for future generations. The challenge for architecture and urban design is to modify spatial and functional assets responding to cultural differences of citizens. This is an important alternative to homologation and semantic impoverishment by |archistars| and their followers. We cannot define a method to plan and to design the intercultural, creative and sustainable city but we can fix strategic objectives (Clemente, 2008). We must think cities where everybody can recognise and feel his urban culture.

Keywords: de-globalisation; identity; intercultural cities; sustainability; creativity; intercultural architectures; sustainable development; urban design; urban culture; strategic objectives.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2009.032772

International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2009 Vol.12 No.2/3/4, pp.116 - 123

Published online: 21 Apr 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article