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LAB1 Bogotá: reactivando la ciudad desde el trabajo colaborativo y la creatividad

Category: ⚐ ES+arquitectura+ciudad+creatividad+cultura abierta+laboratorios urbanos

Hace unas semanas, en el marco del Jurado del concurso BID URBAN LAB organizado por el Banco Inter Americano de Desarrollo, tuve la oportunidad de conocer a Leonardo Velasquez, miembro de uno de los equipos participantes y que resultaron finalistas en este interesante concurso, del que os informamos el pasado mes de junio.

Leonardo, durante su presentación, mostró el trabajo que desarrolla junto con otros estudiantes y creadores en la ciudad de Bogotá. El proyecto se llama LAB1 y hoy compartimos con vosotros algunas imágenes de esta interesante labor colaborativa así como una breve descripción de su actividad, facilitada por el propio Leonardo.

Podéis ver su página web y seguirles a través de Facebook e Instagram. ¡Esperamos que su actividad os resulte inspiradora! continue reading

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Ciclo de conferencias abiertas del Máster en Arquitectura y Energía 2015

Category: ⚐ ES+arquitectura+colaboraciones+educación+sostenibilidad

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Mañana viernes arranca el ciclo de conferencias abiertas del Máster en Arquitectura y Energía (MAE) en la Escuela de Arquitectura y Tecnología UCJC. Recientemente nos hemos incorporado como docentes en dicho Master y aquí compartimos el programa de las conferencias, que consideramos de gran interés:

Viernes 6 de Noviembre a las 18:30 horas
Edgar González, arquitecto, profesor, curator, director de EGD, editor jefe de edgargonzalez.com, practica la difusión de la arquitectura compaginada con una constante búsqueda de la innovación de procesos y tecnologías.

Viernes 20 de Noviembre a las 18:00 horas
Servando Álvarez, catedrático del departamento de Ingeniería Energética y Mecánica de Fluidos de la Universidad de Sevilla, especializado en el comportamiento térmico de la piel de los edificios, de los espacios urbanos y de los sistemas de acondicionamiento.

Viernes 27 de Noviembre a las 18:00 horas
Juan Freire, doctor en biología, director de innovación del grupo Barrabés y socio fundador de Barrabés Next, co-fundador de TEAMLABS, especializado en ecosistemas de aprendizaje, emprendimiento e innovación.

Sábado 28 de Noviembre a las 12:00 horas
Zuloark, grupo de arquitectos, diseñadores, constructores y pensadores que operan en los campos de la arquitectura, el urbanismo, el diseño, las pedagogías, la investigación y el desarrollo.

Las conferencias son abiertas al público y tienen lugar en el salón de Actos de la sede de la UCJC en la calle Quintana 21.

Allí os esperamos!

 

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Networked Urbanism – Ecosistema Urbano workshop at Hong Kong Design Institute

Category: ⚐ EN+city+creativity+ecosistema urbano+networkedurbanism+social software

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Last January Ecosistema Urbano was invited to Hong Kong to take part in activities at two different events. We were invited to give a lecture and run a workshop at Hong Kong Design Institute and also be part of the MaD ASIA FORUM 2015 program.

Hong Kong Design Institute is an educational institution that adopts a “Think and Do” approach through contemporary curriculum and active collaborations with industry. HKDI brings together the strengths of the Design departments and offers programmes spanning across Foundation Studies, Communication Design and Digital Media, Fashion and Image Design, and Product and Interior Design.

1_ HKDI

Our workshop aimed, not only at examining the physical dimension of the city, but also its social processes and fluxes, focusing in the quality of HK public spaces.

We believe that the reactivation of a public space cannot be addressed only by a conventional piece of art or urban design. A lively public space is a complex balance of overlapping layers which should also allow for improvisation and interaction; it is the platform for conversation and socialization and it should respond to the demands, desires and expectations of an increasingly plural society.

The transformation of a public space is not only about physically implementing a new creative urban environment, but also, and far more important, it is about building a community to support it, to care for it, to use it – before, during, and after its materialization. A designer’s role is not only to deliver high quality public spaces, but also to reflect on the many ways public space can contribute to foster or discourage social interaction. It is interesting to understand how the physical configuration of a space can condition our personal and social behaviour.

At ecosistema urbano we believe we have to work at different levels in order to achieve a healthy and sustainable public space. Our methodology focuses on three key factors:

Society. We believe it is necessary to empower communities to drive the projects that affect them, and therefore involve social layer in the design process, so social relevance can be guaranteed. It is necessary to invite citizens to take an active role in urban transformation.

Technology. We embrace technology as a means to enhance citizens’ interaction with each other and with the environment around them. As the digital-physical divide narrows and the possibilities multiply, technology becomes an increasingly significant element in urban social life.

Environment. Sustainability is not only an option anymore, but a must. Our work promotes the comprehension of the city as an open environmental classroom to raise awareness about ecological issues among citizens.

Within this framework, Jose Luis Vallejo and I led a 3-day workshop at Hong Kong Design Institute with students from the landscape program. The purpose of the workshop was to encourage students to reflect on the public space surrounding the school.

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The workshop consisted of three different actions:

FIRST ACTION

During the first task students had to explore the area, identifying both challenges and opportunities in the public space of this part of the city: East Kowloon, a newly built area with a lack of attractive public spaces. They had not only to observe and experience the space themselves but also to gather inputs and fresh ideas from other users and passersby.
In order to communicate and express their learnings and findings, they were expected to elaborate their ideas by producing a video.

WORKSHOP 2

Today’s strong culture in the use of new media pushes us, designers, to find innovative ways of communicating our ideas beyond the conventional disciplinary tools. The easiness of spreading information through social media, reaching out a larger audience, presents new opportunities of raising awareness about urban issues, increasing social interest, and building up a stronger urban culture.

The definition and the testing of these tools is a fertile creative space where students and future designers can find new opportunities for development and innovation, where not only the very concept is important, but also the skills of storytelling and narration.

We believe Design Schools should explore these new ways of communicating and transferring ideas and knowledge to bridge the distances between disciplinary language and society’s interests. It is necessary to develop the appropriate tools and to establish a creative and efficient conversation between us, designers, and the citizens, as we no longer can think about creating a healthy and sustainable city without their engagement.

Many topics emerged from this explorative approach: the space for the visually impaired, the lack of activities and programs, the monotony of the current design and existing solutions, etc.

You can watch the videos produced here.

 

SECOND ACTION

The second purpose of the workshop was to launch the Hong Kong version of the local_in platform, an online platform designed to publish geolocated messages: users write their ideas, opinions, proposals or concerns in 140 characters and classify them by category, tags and location so that they can be viewed, rated and shared in real time.

gif-intro

The digital platform enables users to work at two different levels:

Mapping: situations, problems, opportunities through images, video, descriptions, etc.
Getting into action: posting their designs, strategies, and solutions to reactivate and dynamize the existing spaces.

There is a color code in which RED stands for problems or challenges and BLUE for ideas and solutions.

map 1
map 2
map 3

The interface is very intuitive and allows the user to visualize the information by topics and interests in any given area of the city. Students directly uploaded their findings and reflections to the online platform. The application is open source, designed and developed by Ecosistema Urbano and released under GNU GPL license.

The platform hongkong.localin.eu will remain online and open for further use by citizens.

 

THIRD ACTION

As a final and symbolic act representing the result of this reflection, a temporary balloon installation was implemented in the main public space at HKDI, the boulevar.

inflar-2

A series of 500 balloons were put into place, red balloons standing for problems and blue for ideas, recalling the color classification used in the local_in platform.
The installation is a symbolic representation of the digital platform and the ideas shown were a selection of the many gathered by students during the neighbourhood exploration. The ideas written in the balloons drew the attention of other students and passersby, and many of them also became engaged in the process and decided to contribute with their own thoughts. This simple mechanism became a social catalyst, sparking conversations along the space, connecting people and encouraging the reflection about the space we live in, and finally also the ideal background for many selfies, instantly shared on the social networks.

MATRIZ

HDKI-arriba-SMALL

 

MaD ASIA FORUM 2015

In addition to this activity we also took part in the MaD ASIA FORUM 2015, a platform cultivating creativity and global vision among young people in Asia.

Founded in 2009, MaD (Make a Difference) inspires and empowers young people all over Asia to come up with creative responses to our time’s challenges. It has evolved as a collaborative platform of creative changemakers that works at the intersection of creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation and discovery to bring about positive changes in Asia.

MAD

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Jose Luis and I gave a lecture within the program and led two workshops titled “Designing Human Cities for the Digital Age” in which participants were challenged to interact and collectively think about ways of improving cities.

WORKSHOP MAD

stickers

Here you can find an interview (in chinese) published in NHET magazine.

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Mad(e) in Mumbai | Urban practice in India

Category: ⚐ EN+architecture+urbanism

Mumbai

In 2009 we had the pleasure to lead the final thesis projects of a group of international students taking the Master in Advanced Architecture at the IAAc —Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia.

Among them, we met Kalpit Ashar, who developed as final thesis a project in his home city Mumbai, dealing with informality and social processes. I am happy today to introduce you to the work of MAD(E) IN MUMBAI, and the office established by him together with his partner Mayuri Sisodia. In their own words:

Made in Mumbai

Image: The Mumbai Report

The office provides comprehensive design services in the fields of public institutions, high density housing, environmental infrastructure, community design, landscapes and territorial planning. MAD(E) IN MUMBAI takes its shape in the madness of Mumbai city. This crazy patchwork of ideas, experiences and materiality becomes a repository and laboratory for the studio. It is a departure point for its speculation and practice.

Made in Mumbai

Made in Mumbai

Urban repository – Images: Mayuri Sisodia, Jacob Wilson and Ming Deng

They work closely with the chemistry of the city to discover potential fields of operation. The belief of the practice lies in looking beyond the visible for the unseen and for absurdities of things and places.

Together they have won many national and International design competitions which include Flood resilient Housing Design for Gorakhpur, Revitalisation of Banganga Crematorium, and Regional cultural centre for sustainable community by IAHH and Kalanagar traffic junction Urban Design competition by BMW Guggenheim lab.

Made in Mumbai

Aqueous commune, flood resilient habitats in the city of Gorakhpur

For example, Aqueous communes are flood resilient habitats in the city of Gorakhpur, a city in mid-Gangetic belt. They are Community built initiations that accommodate changing rhythms of Rapti river and make them part of everyday life of its inhabitant. They change imagination of water from an enemy to a friend and celebrate it and make peace with it through design. These aqueous communes multiply along the landscape to contribute to its resilience and develop into an intimately stitched neighbourhood.

Other works by Mad(e) in Mumbai

Other works by Mad(e) in Mumbai

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#networkedurbanism: design thinking initiatives for a better urban life

Category: ⚐ EN+ecosistema urbano+networkedurbanism+publications+urban social design

Last year we introduced a pink #networkedurbanism banner on the right hand side of our blog. Although we briefly mentioned it in previous posts, we never formally wrote about this banner and what is behind it.

networkedurbanism

networkedurbanism

What is it about?

#networkedurbanism is a series of courses we – Jose Luis Vallejo and Belinda Tato- have taught for the last four years in different Universities:  Harvard GSD (2010, 2012, 2013), University of Alghero (2013) and Portland State University (Winter 2014).

#networkedurbanism studio aims to bring interdisciplinary problem solving to the forefront of our work by working on real-world issues and providing an alternative to the traditional way of designing cities. Networked Urbanism blends critical theory with hands-on practice, progressive thinking with social engagement, and research with reflection in action. The studio provides the framework for participants to find their own interests, their own means of expression, their own paths.

Due to the nature of this course, the results and outputs are extremely different as the topics selected by students mainly respond to their own interests and aspirations.

#networkedurbanism design thinking methodology

The ‘toolbox’ of the course includes 10 guidelines:

01. EXPLORE: a topic in the intersection between personal interest and “real” society needs
02. RESEARCH: become an expert in the topic.
03. NETWORK: Create a network (from citizens to experts). Explore the official side but also bottom up visions.
04. SHARE: confront and experience ideas outside your own desk, feedback is a treasure.
05. OPENNESS: start with a detailed plan and be prepared to disrupt it responding to its natural development.
06. THINK BIG: Design a strategic overall vision.
07. START SMALL: Focus on a small scale design that has the potential of the bigger scale.
08. ACT NOW!: Prototype and implement into real life at least a small but significant part of the design.
09. COMMUNICATE: reach a broader audience.
10. BEYOND: How can I develop my project beyond this term?

With this approach, and during the different courses, we have obtained great results. We are aware that working with real issues, real problems and creating connections with professionals is quite challenging, especially considering the time constraint of a term. But at the same time we truly believe that getting out of the designers’ comfort zone, and being exposed to real life, having to provide ambitious but feasible solutions give the students the skills and power to better face reality after they finish this stage of their education. Moreover, some of the ideas/projects developed within these studios continue beyond the course, in many cases becoming the professional thread for the students, who naturally grow as entrepreneurs.

Documenting processes and publishing results

In order to document the processes and the results of the different courses we created, with help of Wes Thomas and Montera34, a specific website where students could upload images, texts, documents and videos along the different stages of development of their projects.

You can browse the contents by their authors —to follow a specific project—, by courses, or by keywords that summarize all different topics or issues the projects have been addressing.

Networked Urbanism website - clic to visit

Networked Urbanism website – clic to visit

We are currently working on a book that will be published by Harvard GSD as a compilation of the projects produced at the studios we taught there in the Urban Planning and Design Department.

On a shorter term we are going to produce a series of posts which summarize some of the projects developed. Some of the topics that are more present are: PLACEMAKING, DIGITAL, MAPPING, WASTE, MOBILITY, RESOURCES, AWARENESS, EDUCATION.

In the meantime, we invite you to surf the web to see the results, that we hope you find inspiring:

networkedurbanism.com

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Exuma Garden of Dreams

Category: ⚐ EN+ecosistema urbano+sustainability+technologies+urban social design

Sobrevolando el Caribe

Puedes ver la versión en español de este post aquí.

Exuma is a district of the Bahamas, consisting of over 360 islands (or cays). The largest of the cays is Great Exuma, which is 37 mi (60 km) in length. The capital and largest city in the district is George Town founded 1793 and located on Great Exuma. The Tropic of Cancer runs across a beach close to the city. The entire island chain is 130 mi (209 km) long and 72 sq. mi (187 km²) in area.

Last February, Ecosistema urbano has started a cooperation with the project A Sustainable future for Exuma: Environmental Management, Design, and Planning, a multi-year ecological planning project as a collaboration among the Government of the Bahamas, the Bahamas National Trust and Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD).

Situación de Exuma

The location of Exuma

The goal is to facilitate the design and management of a more sustainable future for the Exuma archipelago, and The Bahamas more generally.
The project has two parallel and mutually informing components: research and education. These components work to inform the development of proposals and interventions as well as the building of capabilities for local empowerment.

Resumen del trabajo de campo - Fuente: Exuma Topics

Field work summary – Source: Exuma Topics

Ecosistema Urbano’s role, within the overall framework of the project, has been to design a series of activities and workshops to promote dialogue within the local community, reflecting on the future of the islands and publicizing the existence and content of this future project. As a final outcome of this debate, there is a need to implement a catalytic intervention in the public space of Georgetown, as a sign of change and transformation for the future of the island.

While interacting within the local community, we obtained key information about how residents feel, what their expectations, perceptions and needs are, etc…The debate essentially stood between two scales: the general area of ​​Exuma and the local environment of George Town, the main town of the district, where most social activity takes place.

Among the many topics that emerged, some are as important as food, energy supply, education, waste, water, transport, tourism, identity or infrastructure.

There have been great moments of collective reflection on the present and future of this beautiful and fragile environment, and it has been particularly interesting to listen to the younger generation, who despite their young age, have a very clear vision of what are the challenges and problems they face to improve their future prospects.

Llegando a Gran Exuma

The toolkit and workshops that have been implemented to probe the wishes and aspirations of the local community are as follows:

1. Street photo tour

Our friend and extraordinary photographer, Emilio P. Doiztua, accompanied us on this trip, making a great record of many of the participants and activities.
We thought it was important to collect the testimonies of those who wanted to participate in more organized activities, but also of those who preferred to express their ideas spontaneously in the street, just off the Church or the market. People were very open to participate and eager to answer our questions.

Algunas de las fotografías tomadas durante el "tour"

Some of the photographs taken during the “tour”

2. Creative workshops

During the week we have been active in the primary schools of St. Andrew’s, Moss Town, George Town, Williams Town and the LN Coakley High School, working with young people between 7 and 18 years. In parallel there have been two meetings with adults, both in St. Andrew’s Community Center.

We designed a set of 2 questions, as a triggering exercise, using the colors red and blue, to symbolize the changes needed and the desired dreams respectively. Each participant was interviewed and answered these two simple questions, as an individual exercise and then proceeded to the collective exercise, in groups of 4 or 5 people.

Azul y rojo, sueños y cambios

Blue and red, dreams and changes

Many and varied were the answers, and it has been very interesting to see the clarity of ideas of the youngest (7-10 years) who suggested changes and proposed ideas fluently, both about their immediate surroundings (their school, their neighborhood, their town) as well as for the broader context, Exuma.

At the end of each workshop, through a simple origami exercise, the red and blue pages symbolizing the desired changes and dreams for the future, were converted into petals to later become paper flowers.

Plantillas usadas para las propuestas y el origami

Templates used for the proposals and the origami – click to see and download in high resolution

Proceso de plegado del origami

Folding origami

For the collective exercises we worked with aerial photos, words, producing collages and staging. There has been a reflection to 3 scales: Exuma, Georgetown and at a more local scale, around a vital public space in town, the daily most frequented place by children, youth and families.

"The park", el principal espacio público de Georgetown

“The park”, the main public space in Georgetown

This space is a natural meeting place for the teenagers and has got a great potential as a space for social interaction on the island due to its proximity to Lake Victoria and for being in the center of Georgetown.

Ubicación de este "parque" en Georgetown

Location of this “park” in Georgetown

features and allow it to be more active, inclusive and comfortable public space. Some of the ideas collected included: shade, playgrounds, street furniture, water, wifi, stands, community gardens, garden, sports facilities, cultural events, concerts, etc.

Añadiendo propuestas al panel de exposición

Adding proposals to the exhibition panel

Puesta en común

Presentation

Puesta en común

Presentation

Trabajando en los "pétalos"

Working on the “petals”

Algunos niños posando con sus propuestas

Some kids with their ideas

Aprendiendo y enseñando a plegar el origami

Learning and teaching how to fold the papers

Some “flowers” start to appear

Mostrando el resultado

Showing the result

In a local highschool

Using the digital application

Using the digital application

Adults workshop

Workshop with adults, both tourists and locals

Sharing results and reflections

Sharing results and reflections

3. Digital Exuma: www.exumadreams.org

As in previous occasions, and after adapting the graphics, we used Whatif [Edit 2015: now called local in] for digitally collecting ideas from participants. The resulting platform www.exumadreams.org, is and will remain active for the next few months as an open communication channel with all those who want to maintain the dialogue and continue to participate.

For those of you who are not familiar with the tool, Whatif is a web and mobile application designed to the publication of geolocated messages: Users write their ideas, opinions or proposals in 140 characters and classified by category and location so that they can be consulted, valued and shared in real time. We developed it as a tool to assist public participation processes and collective creativity, facilitating the tasks of consultation, exploration and visualization of a wide variety of data.
The application is open source and available for free download on the official website, which will soon be announcing a new, improved version.

exumadreams con whatif - captura de la pantalla principal

exumadreams on whatif – screenshot of the main page

exumadreams con whatif - captura de la entrada al formulario

exumadreams on whatif – screenshot of the entry form

exumadreams con whatif - captura de la vista de mapa

exumadreams on whatif – screenshot of the map view

exumadreams con whatif - captura de la vista de mensajes

exumadreams on whatif – screenshot of the messages view

exumadreams con whatif - captura de la vista de etiquetas

exumadreams on whatif – screenshot of the tags view

www.exumadreams.org

4. Origami garden of exuma dreams- Jardín de los sueños

The last day of our stay, we arranged an installation with all the ideas compiled during the entire process, an ephemeral and symbolic collection of wishes for Exuma, George Town and the public space of the city. A red and blue paper flower garden, each containing 5 petals with different ideas and desires embedded.

The Garden of Dreams allowed us to show the local community the work done throughout the process of workshops and activities, while temporarily transform a public space in Georgetown, drawing attention to the need to revitalize this space.

Boceto de concepto para la instalación

Concept drawing for the installation

La "flor" resultante

The resulting “flower”…

... y las flores formando un jardín

… and the garden these flowers form.

Personas visitando la instalación

People visiting the installation

Personas visitando la instalación

People visiting the installation

Vista nocturna de la instalación

Night view of the installation

Vista nocturna de la instalación

Night view of the installation

Otra vista nocturna de la instalación

Another night view of the installation

Now we are back and the ‘lab’ work begins. It is necessary to process all the collected material and transform the hopes and dreams of the citizens of Georgetown designing a catalytic intervention for this important public space for the community life.

More information about the project:
www.sustainableexuma.org
www.exumatopics.org/about

More pictures about the project at their Facebook page

El equipo visitante, de izquierda a derecha: Gareth Doherty, Jose Luis Vallejo, Belinda Tato, Jose María Ortiz y Mariano Gomez

The visiting team, left to right: Gareth Doherty, Jose Luis Vallejo, Belinda Tato, Jose María Ortiz and Mariano Gomez

Cheers from Exuma!

Cheers from Exuma!

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Los mercados, una cultura alimentaria

Category: ⚐ ES+ciudad+urbanismo

Sant Josep - La Boqueria, Barcelona - Foto por fossilmike en Flickr - clic para ver original

Al hilo de los últimos posts que hemos publicado sobre URBACT Markets, os dejo una interesante serie de artículos sobre los mercados de Barcelona.

Es interesante leer y reflexionar sobre lo que implica este modelo económico, social, gastronómico y el modo de vida vinculado al mismo. Después de haber vivido en el último año en Noruega y en Estados Unidos, se me hace más evidente el valor de este modelo así como las numerosas implicaciones personales, sociales y medioambientales que tiene en nuestra vida diaria y a escala urbana.

Os dejo con un extracto del artículo Mercados e identidad alimentaria, escrito por Manuel Guàrdia de la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya:

Los mercados han sido elementos generadores de la ciudad europea y articuladores fundamentales de la vida urbana, puntos de conexión entre el mundo rural y el mundo urbano, espacios fundamentales de sociabilidad, intercambio y negociación. Han sido y siguen siendo, en definitiva, exponentes de las lógicas de la proximidad, que han estructurado históricamente los valores básicos de la cultura urbana. La sentencia –atribuida a Josep Pla–, “la gastronomía es el paisaje puesto en la cazuela”, pone de manifiesto cómo se construyó la cocina tradicional sobre las lógicas de la proximidad porque, en efecto, en los pueblos y las ciudades, la fusión entre cocina y paisaje se hacía a través de los mercados semanales, que eran el punto de confluencia de los productos del entorno rural inmediato.

Las transformaciones de las ciudades desde el siglo XIX significaron una profunda renovación de los mercados tradicionales. Eran una respuesta al crecimiento explosivo de las ciudades, a los nuevos requerimientos culturales y a la necesidad de contención de los precios de los consumos básicos para asegurar la paz social y el buen funcionamiento económico. A menudo las renovaciones surgieron como respuesta inmediata a los disturbios provocados por las crisis de subsistencia de unas clases populares urbanas en crecimiento. Las nuevas construcciones intentaban confinar en espacios cerrados, cubiertos y bien organizados, unas actividades que hasta entonces habían invadido desordenadamente las plazas y las calles.

Desde el punto de vista de la cultura del consumo, el mercado cubierto significó una “transición” entre la plaza al aire libre, auténtico corazón de la ciudad preindustrial, y los centros comerciales modernos. Desde un punto de vista arquitectónico, los espaciosos “paraguas de hierro” del siglo XIX, con sus paradas fijas y ordenadas, son el eslabón entre los toldos y las mesas desmontables a la intemperie y la exposición seriada del supermercado moderno.

En las siguientes páginas nos proponemos revisar la evolución de esta tradición comercial y alimentaria. Manuel Guàrdia y Marçal Tarragó sostienen que la cristalización de la cocina catalana y mediterránea ha ido de la mano de la consolidación de nuestro modelo de mercado. La periodista Trinitat Gilbert y la cocinera Ada Parellada, por su parte, describen sus valores: la preferencia por los productos de proximidad, frescos y saludables; la relación de confianza que se establece con el paradista; la constitución del mercado como eje central del barrio, punto de encuentro y socialización, sobre todo para la gente mayor; el fomento de unos hábitos alimentarios saludables. Finalmente, Joan de Déu Domènech, historiador, escritor y gastrónomo, aventura un examen prospectivo con unas gotas de escepticismo.(…)

Para seguir leyendo:

Artículo completo
Dossier completo

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ecosistema urbano at Master Class ‘The public space along the channel. The water and the city’ | Brussels 5-7 June

Category: ⚐ EN+ecosistema urbano+events+urbanism

Masterclass at Pyblik

This week I will take part as an international expert at the Master Class ‘The public space along the channel. The water and the city’.

The master Class is organized by ]pyblik[ (www.pyblik.be), an initiative of the Brussels Capital Region in collaboration with 2 schools of architecture in Brussels,  LUCA School of Arts- Department of Architecture and the Faculty of Architecture of the University of ULB. Its aim is to centralize the knowhow and expertise in public spaces.

As part of the course, masterclasses are organized for professionals, designers and project managers, who will reflect together on a specific case. During the 3day masterclasses the focus will be the public space around the canal district in Brussels. I will be joining local experts Dirk van Peijpe, Guy Vanbeeck and Thierry Kandjee for a discussion.

Within this framework, I will offer a lecture presenting the most recent woks of ecosistema urbano. The lecture will take place on Wednesday June the 5th at 8 pm at the Faculty of Architecture Luca-arts in Brussels.

For more info in NL/FR.

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Tonucittá, un nuevo número de la revista Márgenes dedicado a los niños

Category: ⚐ ES+noticias+publicaciones+urbanismo

Tonucittá - Revista Márgenes n5

Compartimos con vosotros la publicación del número 5 de la revista Márgenes de Arquitectura Social, en esta ocasión dedicado al papel de la infancia en la visión y la transformación de la ciudad. Se titula Tonucittá, en homenaje al maestro Francesco Tonucci, principal referente de esta corriente de pensamiento y práctica.

Tonucci es autor del libro “La ciudad de los niños” en el que critica la forma en el que las ciudades están estructuradas, y aconseja que la ciudades sean estructuradas y creadas pensando en los niños, en cierta medida “protegidos” por el resto de la población. Tonucci defiende la idea de que la escuela debería crear personas que fueran capaces de respetarse, ser individuales, libres, tener sus propias opiniones, personas menos frustradas y más decididas a formar sus capacidades.
La escuela debería de ser más abierta a las opiniones de los niños, crear el conocimiento entre docentes y discentes, para crear una ciudadanía más completa, competente y colaboradora.

La página web de la revista permite navegar por los contenidos de todos los números así como descargarlos en PDF y visualizarlos en issuu.

Esperamos que sea de vuestro interés.

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Resolution planning and design for peace

Category: ⚐ EN+city+findings+urbanism

Is Peace a matter of design? Do designers have a role in it? During our stay at Harvard GSD last Fall semester, we had the pleasure to meet architect Karen Lee Bar-Sinai who is a current Loeb Fellow there. Last January she launched the workshop DESIGNING PEACE, looking into how designers can envision peace for the city of Jerusalem. Below is a description of the course and the links to some of the contents and results. We hope you find them inspiring.

designing peace

Architecture and Planning may seem to be of little relevance to Conflict Resolution. However, territorial conflicts occur in space, and so are their solutions. It is time architects, planners and policy makers approach disputed territories together to plan viable, peaceful futures for disputed areas.

This workshop invites you to join an exploration of how design can aid envisioning peace in conflicted territories. We will explore the possible meaning of Resolution Planning – originally a concept and practice developed by “SAYA/Design for Change” (sayarch.com) . Together we will try to give broaden this term, and find new ways to encourage policy makers to think as architects, and to encourage architects to think as policy makers.

Palestinian and Israeli zones on Jerusalem

The 5 day solution-oriented workshop will focus on Jerusalem as a case study for other contested cities such as Belfast and Nicosia. We will plan, think and design at various scales, and propose innovative ideas for peace. Several sites will serve as case studies (one will encourage a landscape intervention, another an urban design strategy, and a third will call for a more general policy oriented vision for the future Jerusalem seam-line). The workshop is planned to be followed by a publication.

Goals and Outcome:
The goal of the workshop is to develop spatial-based concepts to aid peace. We also plan to gather the various proposals into a publication which will include both the theoretical framework and examples of various tools for planning peace.
Above all, we wish for this effort to truly aid overcoming the stalemate in the peace process, which we believe it is crucial to future of both Israeli and Palestinian. We therefore wish this event to be as interesting, meaningful and involving as possible, in order for its fruits and visions of peacemaking to be of highest impact.

Among the contents and results of the workshop we highlight here an introduction to resolution planning and a lecture by Karen on the topic:

More info:

Results: Gallery of the workshop | Same in slideshow mode
Homepage: designing-peace.com
Related website: ispeacepossible.com