MARE MONSTRUM: a land between the seas. The unstable foundation of the new Calabrian Ionian and Tyrrhenian coastline after storm surges

This research records the physical, structural and ecological transformations of the Ionian and Tyrrhenian coastline of the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria, caused by storm surges. The research develops a design narrative that affirms the power of change of the storms themselves: they become the new paradigms. Contrary to “Mare Nostrum”, which places the sea between the lands, “Mare Monstrum” highlights the lands between the sea in order to turn the traditional idea of geographical identity and settlement stratification into generative tools: a new way of a renewed settlement identity and geographical stratification. Mare Mostrum explores the fragility of the Calabrian coast to promote a landscape-infrastructure strategy for adaptation and mitigation capable of challenging the concept of strong sustainability (preventive vision). The Ionian and Tyrrhenian coastline of the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria, along the territories affected by the most recent storm storms, caused by climatic events and phenomena induced by the occupation of soils and modification of natural systems.