Extreme heat, urban experimentation, and visions of past futures in Seville, Spain
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Date
2025-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
This study investigates bioclimatization, a natural spatial cooling method, as an adaptive measure to climate change-induced extreme heat in Seville, Spain. It focuses on the micro-regional experimental pilot project CartujaQanat, intended to serve as a model for revitalizing street life and integrating bioclimatic techniques in urban public spaces. The project is located on the Isla de la Cartuja, site of the 1992 Universal Exposition, where large-scale bioclimatic strategies were first implemented to produce a cooler microclimate for visitors but were abandoned soon after. The following questions guide this study: How does the Isla de la Cartuja site shape the significance and reality of the CartujaQanat project? How do different actors (engineers, architects, planners, civil society) interpret the potential of bioclimatization for implementation in Seville and beyond? This study applies a mixed methods approach using primary and secondary materials, stakeholder interviews, and site observation from three weeks of fieldwork in Seville in June 2024. There is an established literature, technical understanding, and commitment to bioclimatization among academic and civil society circles which faces political barriers to its implementation in the city and a prioritization of technocratic interventions that fit a neoliberal climate urbanism (Long & Rice, 2019). Alternatively, community-based efforts advocate for bioclimatization centered on green space, which aligns more with climate justice. Conclusions from this study contribute to research agendas around climate urbanism, governance, and justice, serving as a detailed case study of the complexities of adaptation to urban climate threats.
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Keywords
climate change, adaptation, extreme heat, Spain/EU