“Within urban space, elsewhere is everywhere and nowhere.”
—HENRI LEFEBVRE
In the early 1970s, urban sociologist Henri Lefebvre anticipated a situation of “generalized urbanization” in which an “urban fabric” would spread to encompass the whole planet, artificializing the entire ‘natural’ surface of the world. While the changing, fast-growing morphology and scale of urbanized regions have attracted considerable attention among urban scholars, the sociospatial, political-economic and technological dimensions of the global “urban fabric” originally postulated by Lefebvre still awaits further systematization and theoretical development — even more so in an age defined and systemically traversed by the ubiquity of climate crisis, with fast technological development and socioenvironmental catastrophe operating as two sides of the same coin. Building on the conceptual framework developed by a constellation of radical urban theorists, this second installment of the research seminar will mobilize the theory of planetary urbanization as a basis upon which to construct a critical agenda for the design disciplines (architecture, landscape, urbanism, planning) in the age of the Anthropocene.
At course completion the student will:
URBAN RESILIENCE : A dynamic governance framework for the Anthropocene, urban resilience combines ecological strategies with infrastructure safeguarding, embracing diverse, site-specific approaches to ensure cities withstand and adapt to crises, thereby maintaining their core identity and functions. URBAN FUTURES: Reimagining sustainable cities in the climate crisis era, grounded in today’s social realities and informed by … Read more
The seminar involved analyzing texts to extract and interpret a key term, then creatively visualizing this concept through the blending of urban textures and landscapes, crafting surreal cityscapes that reflect the nuanced meanings of these terms. The texts explored the themes of: Urban Resilience Definition: The capacity of urban areas to adapt to crises, focusing … Read more
Questioning the rhetoric. The brief In the epoch of the Anthropocene, characterized by humanity’s profound impact on the Earth’s geology and ecosystems, the discourse surrounding resilience to climate change has become increasingly prominent. As societies grapple with the consequences of human-induced environmental transformations, there is a growing recognition of the need to question and analyze … Read more
Critical urban theory This research explored the dynamic relationship between urban landscapes, architectural design, and technological evolution, particularly within the context of the Anthropocene epoch and rapid technological progress. Drawing from a diverse array of urban theory frameworks, the study sought to unravel the complex interconnections shaping contemporary cities. Employing advanced Artificial Intelligence techniques, a … Read more
Decoding complex theoretical texts using AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Midjourney. These tools help tackle dense material by breaking it down into easily digestible points. With the ability to condense large chunks of text into concise, manageable paragraphs, supplemented by key definitions drawn directly from the text itself. Through the utilization of carefully selected … Read more
Islandisation a strategy, that seeks disengagement from interconnected networks. With contextual roots in historical urbanization, islandisation signifies a new era of Anthropocene coastal adaptation, divergent from traditional resilience strategies. It serves as a protective shield, selectively severing detrimental ties while upholding others. Resilience is a concept mobilized in urban studies,shaped by sociopolitical forces, and harnessed … Read more
Drawing on various urban theory perspectives, this study delved into the intricate interplay among cities, design, and technology, particularly during the Anthropocene era and amidst technological advancements. A specialized vocabulary was extract from various readings and visually represented through Artificial Intelligence support, aiming to provoke thought in the observer. Several cityscapes were artistically modified, integrating … Read more
In the realm of urban theory, navigating through dense academic papers and theoretical frameworks can often feel like traversing uncharted territory. The intricacies of language and abstract concepts can obscure the underlying essence, leaving many grappling for clarity. However, in the age of artificial intelligence, I have embarked on a groundbreaking journey to decode the … Read more
Based on the theoretical frameworks of diverse urban theorists, this project explored multiple dynamics between the metropolis, design, and technology within the context of the Anthropocene epoch and the rise of technology. The following lexicon was developed and graphically illustrated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence, creating images that aim to cause a cognitive effect … Read more
Black Holes | Black holes accumulate mass with such force that light cannot escape. The invisible hand drove technological innovation resulting in economies of scale to production. This allowed for flexibility in the accumulation of capital and its products, compressing relative time and space, giving way to increasingly accessible and ephemeral consumption of goods, services, … Read more
