Digital Commons@RISD Home > Division of Liberal Arts > Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive) > Special Volumes
Abstract
It has been suggested that urbanization does not create ways of life but rather offers models that satisfy the expectations of public life. These models can result from the ways that architects, designers, artists, and social actors shape the urban atmosphere setting. In this context, this paper focuses on how São Paulo has worked toward designing a smart city with elements that advance complex issues and promote climate change solutions. This paper explores the processes of aestheticizing and expanding public spaces through an empirical qualitative analysis in which the visual value of a space is evaluated based on cognitive and emotional perceptions. The analysis concludes that aesthetics goes beyond visual and symbolic meanings. By incorporating sustainable and culturally diverse solutions, cities can showcase ethical and aesthetic values that go beyond just a “green image” associated with ecology. A sustainable city that promotes these values is what defines the urban atmosphere.