During our visit to Genoa, we not only presented our campaign but immersed ourselves deeply in the city’s complex debates around urban development and demolition. Guided by local students, who supported us throughout the process and contributed significantly to our street interviews, we experienced a shift in our usual working approach. By collaborating so closely, we gave up a degree of independence, allowing a certain spontaneity to shape our work. From this dynamic and somewhat unpredictable process emerged our series “Genoa Encounters”.
This series offers a platform for local voices exploring how residents perceive and respond to the city’s ongoing transformation. Genoa Encounters is structured in three interrelated parts. The first, “Sidewalk Stories”, captures raw reactions from passersby as they are confronted with data and facts about demolition they had not previously considered. These street-level conversations revealed powerful insights into public perception. The second segment, “Studio Stories”, features in-depth discussions with architects and academics, who offer expert perspectives on the housing crisis and the implications of large-scale demolition. Finally, “Spatial Stories” presents case studies of affected buildings, letting the architecture speak for itself while highlighting how communities can empower themselves and rebuild cohesion in times of disruption.
Together, these narratives form a multi-layered portrait of Genoa’s urban reality—one that is shaped not only by policy and planning but also by the lived experiences, resistance, and the resilience of its people.
