Regenerating the echo monster through ephemeral and sustainable architecture: how to recover the identity of a place

Abstract The identity of places, generated by the interrelations between routes, edges and districts becomes a resource within the new development paradigm for the regeneration of a historic centre. The place under examination is the ancient quarter of “Graziella” in Ortygia, an island characterized by the strong spectacular element of the seafront. The echo monster which faces the sea is actually an indoor parking, a real boundary which breaks the relation with the sea. A re-conception of the place through a sustainable regeneration process which goes beyond the mere architectural aspects avoiding the simple and dangerous urban refurbishment could trigger a solution to regain control of the seafront, to regenerate the neighborhoods and to integrate the historic sites still present in the area. The proposed action includes the promotion of sustainable development, involvement of residents and societal embedding in the local heritage combining rule and exception, natural and artificial, permanent and ephemeral, fixed and mobile, “temporarily” transforming the Ortygia skyline.