Grand Projects 2021 Conference Overview

The International Conference “Grand Projects 2021 – Urban Legacies of the Late 20th Century” was dedicated to the urban transformations that have occurred in the last two decades, by considering the impacts of late 20th century policies. The conference aimed to frame the research project in the international research on large urban projects and mega-events. The goal was to foster a cross-cutting discussion on the common urban change dynamics but also to highlight the differences of each context – territorial, social, political – and their results.

The event was held from 17 to 19 February 2021 in a virtual format, given the epidemiological situation at the time.

It was attended by 89 authors, 32 assistants, 37 moderators of keynote speakers and parallel sessions, 13 keynote speakers and round tables sessions presenters and 12 members of the conference organization team and staff, making a total of 183 people involved in the event.

Conference poster@Grand Projects 2021

The programme included several keynote speaker sessions with national and international guests: Gonçalo Byrne, João P. Matos Fernandes & Ricardo Paes Mamede; Claire Colombo; Manuel Salgado & Josep Acebillo; Christian Schmid and Jean-Louis Cohen.

It also featured an opening session and tribute to Professor Vítor Matias Ferreira, a special session dedicated to Grand Projects, with the presence of Ana Brandão, Jorge Bassani, Stefano Di Vita and Camila D’Ottaviano, a side event – a virtual visit to the buildings and public spaces of Lisbon’s waterfront – by students of the Integrated Masters in Architecture of Iscte, and finally nineteen parallel sessions distributed over ten thematic panels.

Tribute session to Vítor Matias Ferreira @Grand Projects 2021

Roundtable “Cities in Portugal: Between the Expo’ 98 And The Recovery Plan For Europe” @Grand Projects 2021

Grand Projects Keynote speakers @Grand Projects 2021

Roundtable “Grand Projects in Perspective: Portugal, Italy and Brazil” @Grand Projects 2021

Side event “Lisbon Waterfront Buildings And Public Spaces”@Grand Projects 2021

For the research project, the results of the conference enabled a broader understanding of the framework in which the Portuguese experience is inserted, establishing bridges and relations to other territories and contexts, as well as highlighting its originality when compared to other cases. Finally, the debate on the suitability of the grand projects in the face of the contemporary challenges faced today fostered an interesting exchange of ideas and opened up new contributions for the construction of future cities.