Urban imaginaries are everywhere: from new visions of smart, eco, and resilient cities to postcard images of urban vintage and nostalgia; from architectural renderings of starchitecture and luxury living to performative activism for new spatial justice; and from urban utopias in film, photography, and literature to augmented urban realities in location-based gaming and mobile apps. Urban imaginaries form part of our everyday lives in the city, encompassing tourism, city branding, art and architecture, planning, policymaking, and more. They travel old and new media, and – importantly – they are studied in disciplines spanning the humanities, social sciences, and art and design fields.

Hosted by the College of Design Slow Lab, this international workshop at UO Portland examines the role that urban imaginaries play in shaping the future of urban societies, communities, and built environments. The event is part of a collaborative book project on urban imaginaries under contract with Routledge.

The workshop is free and open to the public, although advance registration is required. To attend, please contact: cpl@uoregon.edu

Download the program here.

Organizers:

Christoph Lindner (University of Oregon)

Miriam Meissner (Maastricht University)