Identity. Place Identity between Preservation and Innovation

Abstract

Human coexistence in post-industrial cities poses a formidable challenge to the interior design, consisting not only of migration and the planet survival, social integration and welfare, but also of a liveability dimension based on intangible meanings. According to an ecological view, the human habitat should take account of people primary needs in their complexity, including their right to memory, beauty, interiority and to change themselves by changing their city. Reusing existing buildings allows to put a brake on the consumption of land, energy, built and natural heritage, but also to draw significant inspiration from the memory layered in complex historical spaces, taking their latent potentialities and developing them in an innovative and sustainable way. In the chapter, the concepts of place, identity, innovation are discussed and some reflections on the possible intersection between different fields (interior design, psychology, anthropology, preservation, neurosciences…) are proposed, to promote the creation of hospitable and welcoming physical and relational places.