Paper Towns. Graphical Approaches to Utopian Planning

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/aris.71817
Keywords: City, drawing, proyect, architecture, Utopia

Abstract

When referring to those unbuilt projects that comprise the graphic heritage of architecture, we often use the term “paper architectures”. However, when we refer to “paper cities”, the term generally alludes to invented locations that, nevertheless, have a physical reference on a map. Based on that term, this article proposes the revision of some of the imaginary cartographies, whose graphic display has contributed to diversify the way in which architecture has been communicated during the 20th century. These paper cities were never built; they do not even appear on any map, but they all have in common the unquestionable communicative value of an architecture that was designed by taking into consideration the concerns of its time. We will review projects by architects as different as Wright, Constant Nieuwenhuys, Yona Friedman, or the Archizoom, Archigram and MVRDV teams, with the intention to unravel through their drawings, the keys to these possible and impossible cities.

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Author Biographies

M. Asunción Salgado-De la Rosa, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid, UPM

PhD in Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, ETS of Architecture (2004, Degree with Honors), Professional MArch Degree in Architecture (ETSAM, 1995). Assistant Professor at the Graphic Architectural Ideation Department, ETSAM, UPM since 2011. Her research lines are: review of the relationship between architecture, the  new media (cinema, video, art) and new technologies; review of the new communication modes applied to the architectural drawing. Hybridizations of the graphic language applied to architecture; teaching of the drawing in the field of Architecture's teaching. She is the author of several educational books and numerous articles related to her research lines.

Professionally, she combines architecture practice with creation of graphical art works and participates regularly in architecture competitions in which she obtained several national and international prizes. She regularly exhibits in several countries in Europe, Asia and North-America.

 

Javier Francisco Raposo-Grau, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid, UPM

PhD in Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, ETS of Architecture (2004, Degree with Honors), Professional MArch Degree in Architecture (ETSAM, 1989). Master’s in Administration and Management of Construction and Real Estate, MDI (ETSAM, UPM, 1991). Senior Lecturer and Director of Architectural Graphic Ideation Department, ETSAM, UPM. Active member of the Educational Research and Innovation G. "Hypermedia: Workshop of Architectural Configuration and Communication". His research lines are: Generation, Transformation and Communication of the Architectural Project: Category Models of Graphics and Images, Development of Digital Graphic Libraries; Narration and Graphic Hybridization. Art and Architecture; Development and Implementation of BIM methodologies for architects; Foundations of Drawing Pedagogy. Educational lines for the drawing teaching. Author of multiple educational, communication in congresses and articles related to his research lines.

Belén Butragueño, Escuela Universitaria Cuesta College, (San Luis Ovispo County Community College District, CA, USA),

PhD in Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, ETSAM (2015, International Mention, Degree with Honors, Extraordinary Doctorate Award ETSAM, UPM), Adjunct Instructor of Dept. of Engineering and Technology Cuesta College. Professional MArch Degree in Architecture (ETSAM, 2002, Outstanding). Associate Professor at Graphic Architectural Ideation Department, ETSAM, UPM, since 2007 and at IE Architecture (Segovia) since 2003. UPM License in research and teaching at Woodbury University (LA, California, 2017-18). As a researcher, she works on the analysis of the different processes of communication and expression in architecture and the analysis of the architectural publication and their graphic strategies. She is the author of several referential congress’ papers, journal articles and teaching books in the field.

She began her professional activity at MVRDV (Rotterdam, 2002) and she has collaborated with prestigious architectural offices such as SMAO, PO2 or Soriano&Co. Since 2007 she runs the office B2bConcept, contributing to multiple projects and competitions in the field of architecture and urban environment, through collaborative strategies.

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Published
2021-07-12
How to Cite
Salgado-De la Rosa M. A., Raposo-Grau J. F. y Butragueño B. (2021). Paper Towns. Graphical Approaches to Utopian Planning. Arte, Individuo y Sociedad, 33(4), 1311-1328. https://doi.org/10.5209/aris.71817
Issue
Vol. 33 No. 4 (2021)
Section
Articles

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