Reading…
involves interpreting the meaning of symbols, whether in the form of text, poetry, or even urban landscapes. Katherine Hayles’ exploration of combining human and non-human reading techniques offers new insights for understanding urban environments – emphasizing how cognitive shifts enable us to navigate the complexities of modern cities and urbanization.
… Planetary …
The planetary perspective redefines urban landscapes as part of an interconnected system that transcends traditional boundaries. Neil Brenner and Christian Schmid’s concept of planetary urbanization highlights the integration of rural and peripheral areas into the global urban framework. In contrast, Benjamin Bratton’s idea of planetary-scale computation demonstrates how synthetic intelligence can drive these ecological transformations.
… Urbanization …
should be understood as a complex, multi-scalar phenomenon shaped by intersecting social, political, and economic forces. David Harvey’s perspective on overlapping spatio-temporalities enriches our understanding of urban processes, while planetary urbanization challenges the conventional distinctions between urban and rural spaces.
… Critically …
From the Frankfurt School’s early work to contemporary critical urban studies, critical theory can be understood as a foundation for transformative praxis. The aim is to deconstruct existing paradigms, reframe them, and speculate on urban utopias as an essential critical endeavor—opening new pathways for envisioning alternative urban futures.
… for Terraforming
as defined by Bratton, serves as a framework for critically engaging with urban futures. Urban practitioners become active agents in the terraforming process, reshaping urban ecosystems through technological, ecological, and infrastructural interventions. Urbanization thus becomes a key arena for transformation, relying on the interplay of human and non-human intelligence to drive these efforts toward sustainability and resilience.
