Arriving in a new city is something I find to be disorienting yet incredibly exciting. It may take far more than ten weeks to know and cultivate a sense of place in a city. However, throughout the summer, I slowly developed an understanding of Madrid that seemed unimaginable upon my arrival. Simply living in Madrid…
Mapping Madrid
Mapping is a central component in Paisaje Transversal’s work. Each diagnostic they produce relies on a series of maps which visualize geographic and statistical data. These visualizations help them to pinpoint neighborhood vulnerabilities, and socioeconomic and spatial patterns that may emerge throughout a district. I have spent most of my time this summer reading diagnostics…
Public Space in Madrid
The accessibility of public space in Madrid continues to amaze me. Paisaje Transversal’s projects reveal the importance of communal space as does a walk down just about any street in the city. People seem to truly value time spent socializing outside of their homes, whether it is in a sprawling park, an intimate plaza, or…
Tourism and Gentrification
This summer, I have been living in Embajadores, a neighborhood bordering the districts of Centro and Arganzuela. Centro is the city’s commercial center where many Madrileños work and many tourists spend their vacations. Meanwhile, Arganzuela is more traditional, residential district home to working class and upper-middle income families. In Arganzuela, reisdents enjoy tapas at neighborhood…
Interview with Iñaki Romero
The following is paraphrased summary of my interview with Iñaki Romero which was conducted in Spanish on July 12, 2017. —Iñaki Romero, member of Paisaje Transversal, from Victoria in the Basque Country. He attended architecture school in Madrid to pursue his interests in urbanism. There he formed a school association with his now partners…
Paisaje Transversal and Right to the City
David Harvey´s concept of Right to the City seems to be the foundation of Paisaje Transversal. In my previous post, I discussed how they collaborate with other social businesses in their field. I also touched upon organizations doing similar work in Madrid, and other cities. It is interesting to think of Right to the City…
Social Businesses in Madrid
Paisaje Transversal belongs to Madrid’s field of social businesses. As a collective, they have the autonomy of a private organization yet goals and partnerships deeply rooted in the public sector. Since Madrid’s 2015 election, Spain’s progressive parties have held a majority in the City Council. These progressive seats include representatives from the Spanish Socialist Workers…
New Methodologies
In beginning my research, I have relied primarily on documentation provided by Paisaje Transversal which include statements of methodology, detailed diagnostic proposals, and their blog. Most of my time in office is spent analyzing the intricacies of each project while also trying to understand the larger context of the neighborhoods and districts they are addressing….
Contextualizing Paisaje Transveral’s Vision for Participatory Urban Design
Paisaje Transversal is a collective formed by five activist-architects with the goal of democratizing urban design. Paisaje Transversal’s core methodological model DCP — Difusión, Cuidadanía, Proceso Participativo, states their commitment to local and global transparency, pedagogy, and community participation. Within this model, the team maintains a balance between technicality of design and public opinion. Sustainability…
Taking in Madrid, Initial Impressions
As a researcher in Madrid, I am reminded of my Americanness often—each time I speak to neighbors, store clerks, and members of Paisaje Transversal, or ask passersby for directions. While I am making a sincerest effort to communicate in Spanish, my accent, poor enunciation, and elementary vocabulary, immediately reveal me as una turista. Ten weeks…
