Learning from the South: Cultural Landscapes and Transnational Dialogues on Urbanization in Transition

The Habitat Research Center International PhD Seminar Learning from the South explores how various global urban and cultural landscapes address socio-ecological transitions. By South, this seminar refers to diverse regions historically impacted by colonial legacies and uneven economic development, such as South America, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean, recognizing the term’s contested nature and complexity. The transnational and interdisciplinary character of the seminar encourages participants to challenge existing paradigms and incorporate diverse perspectives, thereby enriching the discourse surrounding cultural landscapes and urbanization transitions. Cultural landscapes can be defined as “the combined works of nature and humanity” (UNESCO, 1992), and embody the imprint of regional practices, cultures, and traditions in architecture, urban planning, and social structures. By acknowledging the relational nature of these environments, designers are reminded that every technical choice is also an ethical and political act – one that shapes not only spatial configurations but also the ways in which we relate to one another and to the Earth. Focusing on historical and contemporary urban challenges, this exploration centers on the notion of radical interdependencies (Escobar, 2017), recognizing how indigenous and local practices offer alternative ways of perceiving and shaping cultural landscapes. These landscapes are not merely physical environments but dynamic, co-produced spaces where human agency and ecological systems are deeply intertwined.