Unexpected Lessons: A Walk Through Alicante’s Public Architecture
A research initiative supported by the Ministry of Culture invites readers to explore the evolving public architectural landscape of Alicante. The project follows the perspective of experts who assign cultural and architectural manifestos to buildings across the city, offering a journey through the design language of the 20th and 21st centuries viewed through their eyes.
The project culminated in an exhibition and a podcast series produced last April and now advances into its second phase, planned for June 9 and 10.
From the outset, the project curator explains that the city of Alicante, a place where Espacio Séneca has hosted similar explorations, is rich with distinct urban rooms, plazas, and remarkable structures. The walking itinerary reveals how these conditions shape public life and architectural perception.
Seneca Space gears up to host the continuation of the initiative with the title Lessons from the Unexpected.
Today, in the early evening, a program of conversations with architects and artists will unfold. Featured speakers include Inigo Barron and Mon Canorepresentatives of a multidisciplinary platform focused on regional transformation, created by architects, sociologists, and artists; Charles Martin, a professor of Ecology at the University of Alicante and a doctor of Biology with expertise in environmental impact; and Ruben Bodewig Belmonte, an architect and advocate for cultural, urban, and architectural heritage, representing the Alicante Regional College of Architects.
During this session they will discuss and present highlights of Alicante’s public spaces, examining them in relation to the manifestos chosen for the project, guided by the project director. Attendees will gain insight into how urban spaces can reflect and influence cultural narratives.
Project: Looking at Alicante architecture through the lens of twenty cultural experts
Friday evening features interviews from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. with Pedro Medina Reinon, a doctor of Cultural Sciences, curator, and art critic affiliated with an internationally recognized study program; Alfredo Paya, a Doctor of Architecture and a professor of architectural projects at the University of Alicante; and Martha Garcia Chico, an agronomist and co-founder of Aranea, a multidisciplinary group that includes Leiva.
The closing acts will include a concert of live music, scheduled from 8:30 to 9:15 p.m.
On Saturday, a children’s workshop for ages 7 to 13 will run from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., offering a practical exercise that teaches young participants how to observe and analyze the city.
There will also be an acoustic performance from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
The promotional imagery for the project is a digital collage depicting a horse calmly walking through Alicante’s architectural spaces. This artwork emphasizes the project’s core idea, encapsulated in the title Unexpected Lessons A Walk Through Alacant, inviting viewers to notice the subtle intersections between space, culture, and daily life.