The Vancouver Parkin Studio recently held a design charrette focused on exploring how individuals uniquely experience urban environments. Drawing inspiration from Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities, participants—both in person and online—collaborated in teams to visually interpret one of the imagined cities described in the book.
Each group approached the exercise through the lens of their own memories, emotions, and personal experiences, reflecting how the cities we inhabit shape our identity and perception. The charrette emphasized sustainability, using primarily recyclable materials such as magazine clippings, pencil, paper, and existing office supplies.
The session concluded with a presentation of the final works and a shared discussion, set to an eclectic mix of music.
This creative exploration encouraged reflection on the meaning of the modern city—especially within a team enriched by diverse cultural and personal backgrounds. By using Invisible Cities as a foundation, the studio reinterpreted Calvino’s narratives through the contemporary lens of lived urban experience.