Earthquakes and the future of cities bring together experts and students in Portimão

Portimão hosts between September 1st and 5th an international workshop entitled "Living with Earthquakes", dedicated to the relationship between earthquakes, architecture, heritage and urban development. The initiative is part of an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme, organized by ISMAT in partnership with Terr. A. ID, ECATI, the Universidade Lusófona and CIAUD of the University of Lisbon, with coordination by Ana Bordalo and Maria Rita Pais. The Algarve city was chosen for its urban, cultural and territorial history, having been transformed over the centuries by its relationship with the Arade river, the coastline and different settlement dynamics. The historic center serves as a research laboratory, where the urban fabric, buildings, commerce and public spaces will be analyzed as a territory where architecture, landscape, memory and social practices intersect. The programme addresses the relationship between heritage and resilience, going beyond the understanding of earthquakes associated solely with emergency and reconstruction, also analyzing how these phenomena transformed landscapes, cities and communities. It also includes international contributions on reconstruction and heritage, with attention to the experiences of Chile after 2010 and questions of authenticity and reconstruction in Japan. Among the specialists are Antonello Alici, professor of Architectural History, Dana Arnold, professor of Art and Cultural Heritage, Pablo Allard, architect and coordinator of Chile's urban reconstruction, and Simon Kaner, archaeologist specializing in Japan's heritage. Over five days, participants develop fieldwork, mapping and urban research in multidisciplinary groups, with the aim of formulating proposals for the future of Portimão's heritage. The results will be presented at the Auditorium of the Museu de Portimão on September 5th.