Learning from ancient cities, devising visions for the future.

Can urban design contribute to mitigating, preventing, and managing flood events caused by climate change? This paper explores various design solutions through a comparative analysis of projects implemented in different time periods and geographical contexts. The aim is to emphasize the importance of an "environmental" design approach, where "environment" is understood not simply as everything that surrounds us but as the set of conditions in which organisms live. Through the comparison of examples such as the redevelopment of the old town of Banyoles, the Piscina Mirabilis in Bacoli, Zuid-Kennemerland Park, and strategic projects concerning the coastline between the Gulf of Pozzuoli and Lake Patria, the study seeks to demonstrate that urban design must increasingly be configured as an interconnected set of diverse factors. This system functions not merely as the sum of its parts but rather in a holistic sense. The investigation aims to highlight the importance of research in these fields and the central role of architects and university research centers in addressing the challenges posed by climate change, particularly the severe flooding events affecting our territories.