Call for Thematic Dossier

Thematic Dossier 01 – Metropolis of the Future: Urban, Socio-environmental Challenges and Projectual Perspectives

Brazilian metropolitan regions constitute privileged fields for the interpretation of contemporary urban dynamics, in which processes of population densification, territorial expansion, environmental pressures, and socio-spatial inequalities intersect. A critical analysis of this reality requires considering regional specificities and understanding how each metropolis responds — or fails to respond — to the challenges of infrastructure, governance, and adaptation to environmental and social transformations.

In the Southeast, consolidated urbanization offers structured transport networks and a significant supply of services, yet coexists with persistent socio-spatial segregation, gentrification of central areas, and saturation of mobility systems. The Center-West, undergoing rapid metropolitan expansion, shows structural deficits in sanitation, public transport, and land-use planning, with direct impacts on fragile ecosystems. The North exhibits historical vulnerabilities, marked by discontinuous urbanization, settlements in risk areas, and logistical constraints. The Northeast, particularly in coastal metropolises, faces pressures from tourism and risks associated with sea level rise and extreme events, within a context of deep territorial inequalities. The South, although highly developed, experiences the recurrent effects of climate change, such as floods and inundations, revealing the limitations of traditional planning in addressing the urgency of integrated adaptation and mitigation strategies.

This dossier proposes an approach guided by urban projectual perspectives, integrating critical analysis and the formulation of solutions for Brazilian metropolitan regions. Contributions are especially welcome that:

  • Present projects and strategies for urban and metropolitan requalification, addressing housing, mobility, sanitation, and green infrastructure;

  • Develop comparative analyses between regions, highlighting structural disparities and different responses to climate and socio-environmental events;

  • Discuss proposals for adaptation, resilience, and project innovation applicable to diverse metropolitan contexts;

  • Articulate urban planning, socio-environmental justice, and new forms of territorial governance, pointing towards more balanced and responsive metropolises in the face of 21st-century challenges.

By prioritizing a critical yet propositive perspective, this dossier seeks to foster reflections that go beyond diagnosis, establishing concrete links between urban planning, spatial design, and the promotion of territorial equity.

Publication Guidelines

Participation in the dossiers is entirely free, with no submission, editing, or publication fees. However, authors of approved papers must provide an English version of the article, which will be reviewed and standardized by the editors to ensure high-quality dissemination and broader international reach.

Evaluation criteria will strictly follow the journal’s editorial guidelines, prioritizing:

  • The theoretical and scientific contribution of the manuscript;

  • The originality and relevance of the study;

  • Methodological consistency;

  • Excellence in academic writing.

The selection of articles will be based exclusively on the quality of the submitted text, valuing research that offers significant contributions to Architecture and Urbanism and their interfaces with urban planning and management.

Article Submission

  • Mandatory use of the template provided by the journal.

  • When submitting the manuscript through the system.

  • Only articles written in Portuguese will be accepted.

Deadlines

  • Submission deadline: November 30, 2025

  • Notification of accepted papers: February 15, 2026

  • Expected publication date: June 30, 2026