Shaping the Future in the Neutral Flow of Time 

"New times are a reality; they exist independently of whether we accept or reject them. They are neither better nor worse than any other time; they are simply a fact, inherently indifferent to values. What matters is not 'what' but only and solely 'how.'"

This perspective, echoed by Mies Van Der Rohe and revisited by Antonino Saggio, encourages us to see change as an unavoidable and neutral reality, free from inherent value judgments. The shift from an industrial society to an information society, symbolizing the “new times,” cannot be simply labeled as "good" or "bad"; it represents a concrete and inevitable fact, indifferent to human values.

This outlook highlights a crucial aspect of modernity: change occurs regardless of our desires, and time moves forward relentlessly, transforming society, technology, and cultural and economic dynamics. Modernity does not depend on our subjective perceptions or our wish to control it; it is instead an unyielding reality that calls for a proactive attitude from individuals and society as a whole.

This emphasis on the neutrality of time prompts us to critically examine our tendency to idealize the past or fear the future. Often, we nostalgically view past times as better or face the future with dread, as if it inevitably brings deterioration. Van Der Rohe and Saggio challenge this mentality by presenting a view that removes value judgments from time. Time, in itself, is neither positive nor negative; it simply unfolds, indifferent to our fears or hopes.

This reflection introduces an important dialogue about human responsibility: if time and change are neutral, the difference lies in how we relate to them. We cannot control the "what" of change, but we can decide "how" to face it. The responsibility of individuals and society is in our ability to adapt with awareness, to design our time and the spaces we inhabit in ways that seize opportunities and address the challenges change brings.

This call for creativity and responsibility is especially vital in an era of rapid, profound transformations. Cities, technologies, and social relationships must be designed and lived with an ethical and conscious vision, recognizing that it is not change itself that determines the quality of our time, but how we choose to respond to it. Change, in other words, offers us a neutral backdrop onto which we can make a positive or negative mark through our choices.

In conclusion, this perspective invites us to look toward the future without fear, accepting the neutrality of time and change. The meaning and value we attribute to our time depend on our actions, on our commitment to building a better world. Only through a reflective and community-oriented approach can we give a positive meaning to a time that, by its nature, has none.