Detailed description (English): 'Metropolis 2023' was a unit of study where secondary school students gained an insight into the contemporary field of urban planning. Research was conducted into the impact of the economic, health and climate crises on urban design and how cities from different parts of the world are responding. Students created posters about MOBILITYACTION week and promoted European Car Free Day with talks in different classrooms and a class bike ride on Friday 22nd September.
Students engaged actively with their local environment, artistically documenting walks and using contemporary technologies to record educational bike rides. Scientific and mathematical concepts such as proportion, percentages and ratios were applied to the practical context of energy efficiency. Role play was employed to explore the different and passionate opinions concerning urban planning, using this as a means of exploring conflict resolution and creating positive contemporary narratives.
Students then produced their own utopian vision and urban plan of different locations in Seville using video and architecture design software. This was followed by a consultation with the public to gather their opinions on the students' proposals. The entire project was recorded and shared in the form of a video documentary.
Target group(s): Secondary school students, members of the public
Objectives: To promote awareness of sustainable urban design for future leaders.
To produce an in-depth study concerning the metropolis and the sustainability of urban design in the era of globalisation.
Key objectives were for students to understand the reasons why cities are undergoing significant changes in their design, and to stimulate students to come up with their own creative and practical responses to redesign areas within their own city (Seville).
Educational objectives were in-line with UNESCO's competences for the 21st century, specifically interactive use of resources, interacting with the world in an interdisciplinary manner.