Sophie Leemans

Lifelines: Infrastructure (and) Transformation in the European Territory

A lunchtime lecture by Sophie Leemans, Architect, PhD researcher at KU Leuven (supervisor: Maarten Gheysen, co-supervisor: Erik Van Daele), and Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes at GSAPP.

This lecture is being hosted in-person and virtually, please join on Zoom for the virtual session. (ID: 979 1621 0099, PC: 11375)

Sophie Leemans explores the transformation of dispersed European territories, geographies, and ecologies with respect to water infrastructure networks. These dispersed landscapes are low-density regions characterized by intermingling elements of housing, industry, services, recreation, and agriculture. The current condition faces numerous water-related challenges, including aging infrastructure, renewable energy transition, social inequalities, and declining biodiversity. The challenges are not unique to these territories but require alternative and new approaches that go beyond the conventions of the compact, historic city.

Organized by the Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design Program at GSAPP.