Inventa(rio) Fronteiras: Playing for Multispecies Cities

Luciana Braganza, Marcela Brandão, Ana Clara, Beatriz, Geisiely, Maria Clara, Thales, Bruna

On October 11th and 12th, eight workshops will be held, each lasting 1.5 hours. The full schedule and times are at the bottom of the page.


The EA-UFMG Nature Politics Research and Extension group is proposing the workshop "Inventa(rio) Fronteiras – Playing for Multispecies Cities," developed from the academic research project "Fronteiras" (FAPEMIG APQ-02540-24). The activity is structured around a game that serves as a methodological tool aimed at deepening the understanding of socio-environmental conflicts in the fields of architecture, urbanism, and landscaping. The proposal is part of the group's discussion on methodologies for Multispecies Projects, which seek to integrate non-human agents as active subjects in the constitution and maintenance of urban ecosystems. Through playful dynamics, it invites participants to map, narrate, and imagine other ways of inhabiting territories, recognizing the multiple existences that make up life in cities. The workshop encourages attentive listening to the visible and invisible borders that mark spaces and their conflicts, expanding the critical and sensitive repertoire for professional and academic practice.

Team – Nature Policy Research and Extension Group EA – UFMG.
Coordination: Luciana Braganza, Marcela Brandão.
Scholarship holders: Ana Clara Vitor, Beatriz Amorim, Geisielly Saroa, Maria Clara Campos, Thales Andrade, Bruna Sirotheau, Marcelo Eisenberg.

The proposed game, developed by the group, is a playful methodology that simulates the construction of cities through the interaction between individuals, highlighting how urban projects can benefit or harm different individuals. It is structured as an Empathy Game and considers the interaction and coexistence of different species—human and non-human—in built environments, seeking to overcome communication and interpretation challenges that often hinder understanding in urban design and planning processes. The game's structure, objectives, and dynamics allow each player to experience the construction of the watershed as their character.

The goal is to promote a critical discussion on climate resilience and urban planning, using games as a dialogical tool. The workshop aims to raise awareness among participants about conflict situations in planned territories, which often marginalize the presence of non-human subjects and some humans, such as racialized people and the homeless. This workshop hopes to not only spark reflection but also inspire projects and concrete actions toward more inclusive cities.

Participants will be invited to play with their bodies, assuming roles such as water, wind, plants, animals, or humans from various groups. The pawns are the people themselves. Construction, conflict, connectivity, and permanence cards introduce real-life situations and spaces, such as buildings, floods, deforestation, and afforestation, allowing players to experience the consequences of different urban interventions depending on the character they play.

Free

Vacancies: 20 per class (8 classes)

Attention: Bring drawing materials. Do not wear high heels or pointy shoes.

Registration:
Registrations must be made by form available here.
Selection will be made in order of registration.
Registration will be open until October 10, 2025.

Schedule:
Each workshop will last 1h30

11/10 – 9am to 10:30am
11/10 – 10:30 am to 12 pm
October 11th – 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
11/10 – 3:30pm to 5pm


12/10 – 9am to 10:30am
12/10 – 10:30 am to 12 pm
October 12th – 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
12/10 – 3:30pm to 5pm

If you have any questions, please contact the Natureza Política Group via email: natureza.política@gmail.com.

Participate in the program of debates, workshops and associated activities!

TODAY (27.09):

10:30 am to 8:30 pm – SP Meeting Forum

4:00 PM – Launch of the book Collective Housing: BR/NL

IN THE NEXT DAYS (28.09 to 03.10)

28.09 – SP Meeting Forum

28.09 – workshops First Half and CLIMATIVA: Climate Action Plan for Brazilian cities

28.09 – 4th Jewelry Festival in the Jewel Park and activity Bixiga River Territory reforests Canudos in Horta Denuzia

September 29th to October 3rd – workshop Embodied landscapes

September 30th and October 2nd – Biomaterials Mini-Workshops at the Living Lab

30.09 – Guided tour of Pantanal Action

10/1 – conference Means of production with Jane Hall

10/1 and 2/2 – session 4 and session 5 of the show Cinema, architecture and society at the cinematheque

01.10 – workshop Between blades and gaps: project models in Glulam

01.10 – workshop Grammars of Nature – architectures of the infinitesimal at the Living Lab

02.10 – movie The Strength of Form – bent lenticular beam in wood at IABsp

02.10 – Amerindian Farms in Oca. Amazonia from the Margins to the Extremes: Labya-Yala of FAU-USP

02.10 – tables Preserving biodiversity in the city + Trees and Thermal Justice

03.10 – tables Housing policies for the homeless population and the experience of the FICA Fund + Innovating the Regularization of Affordable Housing + Cultural facilities in adapted historic buildings

03.10 – Workshop on Designing Wooden Structures with Fiber at IABsp

03.10 – Visit to Morro Grande Park

JOIN! IT'S ALL FREE!

And there's much more until October 19th!

(Activities and projects are still being added; the site will be complete soon)

NOTE OF CONDOLENCE

With deep sorrow, the Brazilian Institute of Architects – São Paulo Department (IABsp) mourns the passing of architect and landscape architect Kongjian Yu, a global leader in ecological urbanism, and the members of his team who accompanied him, tragically killed during the filming of a documentary. The institute is honored to have had him as a participant in the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, where his transformative vision strengthened the dialogue between global challenges and local realities. IABsp emphasizes that Yu's contribution, which transcends borders, will remain an inspiration for generations and expresses its condolences to China, to the families of all the deceased, to his friends, and to all those impacted by his genius and dedication. Read the full note here.