We are thrilled to announce that we have successfully completed the first phase of our ongoing Winter Studio, Coastal Cities: Planning and Design for Urban Ecosystems in Portugal.
This studio aims to deepen the students understanding of the urban planning and design challenges facing coastal cities, while exploring the potential role of nature-based solutions in addressing these issues. Our objectives include analysing the complexities of urban ecosystems in coastal areas and developing nature-based planning and design solutions for the city of Aveiro, in Portugal.
This first phase served as a critical foundation, providing contextual knowledge to familiarise students with key concepts such as urban ecology, ecological planning approaches, and nature-based solutions. We also explored the unique dynamics of coastal ecosystems and the specific challenges facing coastal cities in the context of climate change.
Focusing on urban coastal areas in Portugal, we were privileged to learn from four distinguished speakers - practitioners and academics - who provided invaluable insights into the topics:
- Coastal Area Planning and Management in Portugal (Cristina Garrett, Portuguese Environmental Agency)
- Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Adaptation (Rita Carrasco, University of Algarve)
- The Use of Sustainability Indicators in Land Use Planning: Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity in Portuguese Municipalities (Sara Moreno Pires, University of Aveiro)
- Urban Regeneration & Nature-based Solutions in Aveiro (Paulo Silva, University of Aveiro)
In just four weeks, the students participated in the lectures and carried out a thematic group analysis of Aveiro. This exercise was crucial in helping them to understand the ecological, urban, and architectural realities of the city from a social-ecological perspective. The students identified key challenges and opportunities for intervention, laying the groundwork for the next phases of the studio, which will include transformative and visionary urban proposals guided by ecological principles for the future of Aveiro.
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