In a context of profound uncertainties linked to the succession of recent economic and environmental crises, it is essential to reflect on the transformations of urban spaces and cities that will allow them to respond to the contemporary challenges and recover their character as attractive and desirable places to live.
The conference ‘New Urban Visions: The Imprint of Utopias on the Contemporary City’ aims to present the results of research on various contemporary architectural and urban projects envisioned for Galician urban spaces that were never realized. At the same time, we bring together a group of internationally renowned researchers to reflect on the different dimensions of utopian thought as it relates to our urban spaces. We delve into the study of architectural utopias and the trends observed in the conception and design of projects marked by the use of tools born from the rapid revolution of digital technologies. We reflect on new visions and approaches to urban issues arising from transformations in the affective and emotional dimension mediated by the expansion of digitalization. Furthermore, we address the utopias of urban governance to imagine alternative models for regulating the platform economy characteristic of this phase of financialized capitalism. Finally, we offer an open discussion for citizens and urban stakeholders on the need to foster different modes of shared, speculative, utopian thinking in order to develop new urban visions that will lead us to fairer and more livable cities and urban spaces in the future.
Organized by Arsogal and the Urban Futures Seminar, the conference will be held on May 7 and 8 at the Faculty of Geography and History.
Download the program here.
