Article 3 du catalogue des résultats Europan 18
Check out the articles of the Europan 18 catalogue!
Learn more about each theme and sub-theme, through the articles of the catalogue.
Read the article “Geographical Urbanism,” extracted of the E18 Catalogue of Results
The article, written by Iñaki Alday (ES) (Barcelona/New Orleans: Tulane University), argues that contemporary urban design is increasingly structured by geography, ecology, water systems, and landscape, rather than conventional city planning alone. Recent Europan projects signal a move away from housingcentric architecture toward multiscalar integration of urbanism, landscape, ecology and infrastructure. Alday presents “Geographical Urbanism” as a design approach refined over three decades that links cities to rivers, forests, topography and ecological processes to create resilient, livable settlements. It is framed not as a novelty but as a contemporary rereading of preindustrial settlement logics that tied habitation closely to nature. A key reference is the recovery of the Gállego riverbanks in Zuera, Spain, where the river once structured public space, urban growth and ecological restoration.
Parallel currents such as “Landscape Urbanism” and “Water Urbanism” have spread related ideas internationally. Across Europan 18 prizewinning projects, three themes stand out:
1-Ecology: ecological corridors and green networks organize neighborhoods and reconnect fragmented habitats.
2-Water and topography: drainage landscapes, lagoons and terrain are integrated in planning to boost climate resilience and manage stormwater.
3-Built scale and geography: architecture responds directly to slopes, rivers and forests, creating buildings and public spaces that blend with their settings.
These examples show how geography can structure urban life while addressing climate risks and water challenges. Aligning city design with geographic and ecological systems now appears as a necessary path for sustainable urban living and inhabiting the planet responsibly.
>> Click here to read more about the article from Iñaki Alday