06 Jun 2024
As the motto of the XX International EGA Congress, “Graphical Horizons” states, the essence of architecture lies in the desire to look beyond the present moment, to anticipate and prepare for the future. The horizon—by definition unattainable—not only symbolizes this unwritten future, but also acts as a constant source of hope in times of uncertainty.
In this edition, the aim is to broaden horizons and overcome the limitations of the present, embracing a wide range of themes and experiences that represent the core of the discipline: architectural graphic expression. From our perspective, this openness and the gathering of diverse ideas are essential to face the abrupt changes that the future holds and to address adverse situations with greater foresight and calm.
In conclusion, this is a congress that draws the horizon, even if it remains unreachable, to serve as guidance and inspiration.
Gonzalo Sotelo-Calvillo, as a member of the Department of Architectural Graphic Ideation at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and Teresa Raventós-Viñas, from the Department of Architecture and Design at the Universidad San Pablo-CEU, have contributed to the congress with an initiative that seeks to bring teaching and research closer by exploring artistic fields adjacent to architecture, with the aim of creating new spaces of opportunity that foster student motivation. In particular, a selection of geometric abstraction works by the artist Pablo Palazuelo has been chosen as a starting point for the development of graphic proposals for the design of utopian cities.
This initiative has not only been integrated into urban design coursework, but has also promoted competitions through an agreement between the university and the Pablo Palazuelo Foundation. This collaboration has allowed students to draw inspiration from the artist’s work to develop innovative and creative projects.
After presenting the reasons behind the choice of Pablo Palazuelo as a source of inspiration, the selected works are addressed and the students’ submissions are analyzed. This analysis focuses both on content and on the graphic characteristics of the projects. The scope of the study is defined, on the one hand, by the specific selected works of Palazuelo, and on the other, by the results of the last two competitions focused on the creation of ideal cities based on the artist’s work.
This initiative demonstrates how integrating artistic references into urban design education can open new avenues of creative exploration and provide an additional boost to student motivation and development. Ultimately, this interdisciplinary approach enriches academic training and promotes a stronger connection between art and architecture.
More information about the XX International EGA Congress, A Coruña–Porto 2024: https://ruc.udc.es/dspace/handle/2183/36090
