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Ecological Futures

Canemorto, Combo with Ema Jons (2015) © Gian Andrea Montanino

Ecological Futures is an international project run by the architecture and urbanism magazine ARCH+ and the Goethe-Institut, which addresses the environmental and social challenges posed by climate change and urban development. The aim is to work with residents, artists, activists and local initiatives to develop concrete solutions for liveable and sustainable neighbourhoods.

Core idea of the project:

  • Local people collaborate with experts from the fields of art, architecture, urban development and environmental activism.
  • Models, methods and projects are developed to promote a socially and environmentally just future.
  • The experiences are documented and compiled into a toolkit that can be used internationally.
  • The project has a global scope and is being implemented through various Goethe-Institutes and partner networks in different cities.
One of the first major sub-projects was “Un’altra Casa” in Rome (from 2024). There, the project partners worked with the residents of the squatted Metropoliz/MAAM factory site to develop ideas for the future of the site, which is to be converted into socially affordable housing.

Since 2026, there has also been an international residency programme at the Spreepark Art Space in Berlin, bringing together artists, architects and activists from various countries.

Ecological Futures is an international networking and practice-based project that combines art, urban development and social engagement to develop concrete responses to climate change and social inequality in cities.


If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact the Visual Arts team: eva.schmitt@goethe.de and petra.roggel@goethe.de

This text was generated with the help of AI.

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