Firstly, this article focuses on the origins of modern architecture in addition to the simple binomial academism/modernism that sometimes gives little clarification about the aesthetic, formal or typological options of southern European countries. By widening the spectrum of cultural, mythical and ideological influences at the beginning of the 20th century, other insights are possible, not only with regard to the modern period, but also in the understanding of some paths of Mediterranean contemporary production. In short, this article aims to raise two main questions and how can they be related: 1) Does the identity of Mediterranean architecture come from common fundamentals or from a richness of contrasts and diversities? 2) Can these fundamentals and diversities become “operative” in architectural/urban design? And how do they respond to the globalization phenomena and the possibility of real sustainable achievements?