The urban project for emergencies. The architecture of public space in temporary post-disaster settlements

This contribution argues for a stronger architectural and urban design role in post-disaster emergency policies, moving beyond purely logistical responses and treating temporary settlements as strategic components of reconstruction. Starting from the case of Accumoli after the 2016 earthquake, it proposes the idea of the transitional city as an intentionally designed phase, in which housing, public space, services, and community life are conceived together. The essay frames emergency settlements not as isolated provisional enclaves, but as adaptable urban structures capable of supporting social continuity, collective identity, and long-term territorial resilience. In this perspective, the urban project for emergency becomes a tool for reconnecting reconstruction, public space, and future development.