Imaginary Atlas, Brazil

Do cities swallow the forest or does the forest claim the cities?

By 2050, 68% of humans will live in cities. To address the future, we must look at cities. However, our limited imagination of what cities can be —shaped by Western and globalized ideals—has led to a standardized urban model that deepens social and environmental disruption worldwide. As the climate crisis unfolds, we must rethink how we inhabit the biosphere.

Brazil, the most biodiverse country on Earth, is home to forests of continental proportions that play a critical role in regulating the global climate. Yet, the country is already experiencing the tangible consequences of climate change. As we launch our Imaginary Atlas research in the region, we have strategically chosen two major cities embedded within two interdependent ecosystems:

• Belém do Pará, in the Amazon rainforest and at the delta of the Amazon River.
• Brasília, in the heart of the Cerrado, known as the cradle of waters in South America.

Ancestral Futures

The Cerrado and Amazonia have been living laboratories for human habitation for millennia. Together, they form a bio-cultural monument, sculpted through elegant and robust human-environment interaction. This challenges us to see the forest not as a resource to exploit but as a partner in co-creation, offering insights for reimagining our urban futures.

Looking into these practices, we explore the idea of ancestral futures, using local knowledge and partnerships with local research institutions and communities as a methodology.

Immersive Real-Time Media

The Imaginary Atlas includes an immersive, interactive platform designed to engage broader audiences in the debate on urban futures, expanding our research framework beyond academia. Blending real-time rendering, cinematic storytelling, and user input, it merges cinema and gaming to transform spectators into participants. Using art as a tool, the installation invites communities to reimagine urban futures through a new aesthetic lens. As the digital city evolves in response to audience interaction, it mirrors the dynamic relationship between cities and their inhabitants. 

Open-Source 3D Library

As a key part of the project, we are creating a digital archive of 3D assets captured through scanning. This collection includes detailed scans of local plants, cultural elements like façades, and archaeological pieces, all of which will be available for free download. What makes this collection unique is its focus on localized content—elements that have never before been digitized in 3D—offering a fresh resource for artists, designers, and researchers.

New Tools for Cinematic Storytelling

We are experimenting with new possibilities in cinematic storytelling by blending game engine technology with interactive media. By combining real-time rendering with live user input, we create a dynamic, audience-driven experience. With features like real-time sequencing, in-camera VFX, spatial audio, and integration with tools like TouchDesigner, the project becomes a hybrid of art, technology, and interactivity.