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When I was a teenager, I stumbled upon Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino—a slim yet profound book that transported me into a realm of imagined cities, each a metaphor for human aspirations and contradictions. Calvino’s poetic exploration of possibility captivated me, offering not just descriptions of places but insights into how we, as humans, create, destroy, and transform the spaces we inhabit. One city in particular stayed with me: a city suspended between earth and sky, held together by the delicate balance of its people’s collective will to imagine better.
That vision has never left me. It planted the seed of a question that has guided my life and work: What if we could consciously design the cities of tomorrow? Not just build them, but craft environments that intertwine humanity, technology, and nature in ways that regenerate rather than deplete.
As a strategic futurist, I’ve spent years exploring the intersections of human creativity and technological potential. Along the way, I’ve come to see that now, more than ever, Calvino’s imagined cities can serve as blueprints for reality. Tools like regenerative design, ethical innovation, and future forecasting equip us with the power to shape cities that are not just sustainable but nice ecosystems for people and planet alike.
This brings me to Futuro LATAM, a Plena Project's series close to my heart. In this series, we will dive into visionary but plausible projects for cities across Latin America—places brimming with cultural vitality, ecological wealth, and untapped potential. From the cloud forests of Monteverde to the windswept plains of Patagonia, we’ll explore how forward-thinking design can address urgent challenges while celebrating local identity.
Why does this matter? Because cities are where the future unfolds. They are where people, technology, and nature intersect most profoundly. And Latin America, with its mix of biodiversity, creativity, and resilience, offers an unparalleled canvas to imagine futures that are not only innovative but also inclusive and regenerative.
Futuro LATAM is more than a thought experiment—it’s an invitation. It’s a call to imagine, collaborate, and act. I believe these ideas, inspired by Calvino’s poetic cities, can be made real so let’s get started