The issue of peripheral and marginal areas is today increasingly central to the debate on the future of territories, as shown by studies and policies that focus on the analysis and enhancement of these contexts. Currently, about 58% of the European population lives and works outside the major urban centres. These areas, often far from the main economic and infrastructural flows, are characterised by critical issues related to inaccessibility, scarcity of employment opportunities, social exclusion and an ageing population. 

In such contexts, architects and designers assume a strategic role in the regeneration process, both through design innovation and by promoting the active involvement of communities. Particularly in remote territories, a strategic design approach is essential, capable of bringing out tangible resources and intangible values that are often neglected or at risk of disappearing. 

An emblematic example of this approach is the ‘Cuttlefish Revolution’ project, active since 2016 in Belmonte Calabro (Italy). Born from the collaboration between the collective Le Seppie and the Roman studio Orizzontale, the project proposes a model of cultural and social regeneration based on practices of cohabitation, self-construction and international collaboration. Through workshops, artistic residencies and temporary interventions in public space, La Rivoluzione delle Seppie has activated participatory dynamics that have enabled abandoned places to be re-inhabited, triggering new relationships between inhabitants, students, professionals and artists. 

This kind of experience demonstrates how temporary installations and participatory processes can generate significant transformations even in a short time, offering a new collective dimension of space and helping to strengthen the sense of belonging of local communities.