This Special Issue, “Cultural Heritage, Creative Practices, and Sustainable Design for Community Resilience and Environmental Well-Being,” presents contributions that examine the intersections of heritage preservation, creative practices, and sustainable design in Mediterranean and international contexts.

The selected papers show how cultural heritage can guide resilience strategies in response to environmental, social, and economic challenges. Case studies include adaptive conservation methods for archaeological mosaics at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint and cross-scale approaches to adaptive reuse in rural Apulia. These studies show how sustainable design can strengthen the relationship between communities and their landscapes. The long-term Crossing Cultures project in Belmonte Calabro further demonstrates how participatory governance, education, and creative practices support rural revitalization and social cohesion.

The issue also expands the discussion of cultural and natural connections. It considers the role of biophilia, the emotional impact of artistic experiences, and integrates a case study of how design innovation can promote environmental well-being.

Collectively, these contributions reveal how conservation science, architectural and landscape design, artistic expression, and community participation can help to create new avenues for sustainable development. This Special Issue invites interested scholars to view cultural heritage not as a static legacy but as a living resource for resilience, creativity, and environmental awareness.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21625/essd.v10i3
Published: 2025-09-30

Research Papers