Focus on connectedness: Social, technological and environmental issues

Abstract

The theme of connectedness, as a keyword in the revitalization processes of anthropized contexts, constitutes the focus of the paper which investigates its thematic areas related to the environmental, technological, and social dimensions. Sharing the importance of a strongly systemic approach in urban open space transformation interventions, the authors transfer the concept of connectedness, usually applied at vast territorial scales, from the ecological sphere to the urban one. The proposed approach highlights the need to decline the concept of connectedness into multiple dimensions capable of covering the various aspects that characterize the complexity of sustainable transformation processes of the open space-built system. The methodology, through the integration of connectedness in its various declinations, is an attempt to create new relationships of a different grade among and between single design spots (open spaces as an urban infrastructure) to emphasize relations that are not immediately recognizable, but which are at the basis of a regenerative design strongly oriented to providing social and technological-environmental services (inclusiveness and ecosystem services).