CITI4SEA: A Typological Indicator-Based Assessment for Coastal Public Spaces in Large Euro-Mediterranean Cities

Ivan Pistone () and Antonio Acierno ()
Additional contact information
Ivan Pistone: Department of Architecture, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, 80134 Naples, Italy
Antonio Acierno: Department of Architecture, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, 80134 Naples, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-53

Abstract: Coastal public spaces in large Euro-Mediterranean cities represent critical zones of negotiation between land and sea, where ecological fragilities, infrastructural pressures and social demands intersect. Grounded in the concept of the urban amphibious, this study explores the spatial-functional complexity of city-sea interfaces through the development of CITI4SEA (City-Sea Interface Typological Indicators for Spatial-Ecological Assessment), an original multidimensional framework for the evaluation of coastal public spaces. The methodology builds on a geo-database of 149 coastal municipalities in eight EU Member States and applies a set of indicators to seven major cities (with populations over 500,000 and comprehensive port infrastructure). Through a structured evaluation grid applied to 23 coastal public spaces, the framework enables a cross-comparative analysis of spatial configurations, ecological qualities, and patterns of public use. Results reveal the emergence of transnational clusters based on shared planning logics and degrees of socio-environmental integration, rather than geographic proximity. The study also identifies asymmetries in accessibility, environmental performance and equipment provision. Beyond mapping spatial disparities, the contribution offers a replicable tool for assessing littoral transformations within the broader framework of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), supporting context-specific strategies for resilient and inclusive coastal governance.

Keywords: CITI4SEA; assessment framework; coastal public space; urban regeneration; coastal management; city-sea interface; urban amphibious; Euro-Mediterranean basin; urban coasts; large coastal cities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/18/8239/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/18/8239/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8239-:d:1748879

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().