Title

Urban Planning with Communities in Spain and Latin America

Abstract

While urban planning is mainly associated with the physical design of cities led by architects and engineers, a holistic understanding of this discipline necessarily consists of a multidisciplinary approach to the "making" of cities that is oriented towards improving the quality of life of all communities, and especially the most vulnerable ones.

In this talk, we'll discuss how a culture-oriented approach to community planning can contribute to building autonomy and well-being in contexts of vulnerability and marginalization by leveraging professional expertise and community knowledge. Through the presentation of a series of participatory design projects in Spain and Latin American countries, we'll reflect on how an understanding of the shared roots among these countries can shed light on potential collaborations for community planning projects that respond to the urban needs of the 21st century.

Bio

Antonio Moya-Latorre is a musician and an architect from Spain who became an urban planner. Thanks to the La Caixa fellowship program, he pursued the Master in City Planning at MIT DUSP. As an architect, Antonio co-founded his own urban collective in Spain and focused on participatory design projects. He has worked in different urban and community planning projects in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. As a musician, he regularly performs recitals in Spain, Mexico, and the US. Antonio explores how a culture-oriented approach to planning can build fairer social systems and spark well-being among the oppressed. He currently works at MIT CoLab and Presencing Institute.