Living with water: (Re)imagining land–sea spaces in Naples as a design strategy to (re)conceptualise port cities as circular landscapes

This article explores the transitional spaces of Naples’ port city, proposing a shift in perspective by viewing coastal territories from the sea. It highlights how fragmented land–sea interaction spaces can become experimental grounds for circular processes and environmental infrastructures. By analyzing Naples and European port cities, it questions the current linear planning of ports and their disconnection from urban life. The article focuses on the spatial dimension of circularity, advocating for reimagining wastescapes – neglected spaces between land and sea – as multifunctional, resilient landscapes. Through case studies and scenario thinking, it proposes new ways of living with water, challenging existing urban-port planning paradigms.