Island territories are historically places of bewilderment and mystery, enthusiasm and fear, promises and disenchantment, and in a certain way they condensate all the complexity of Human endeavour. These fragments of Earth’s core that emerge from the watery layer of our planet’s oceans and seas still draw upon us all those contradictory feelings. From Literature through Art, humanity has consistently put Islands in the centre of its confrontation with natural elements and the forces of nature. This apparent contradiction hits its highest peak in volcanic islands.

This design studio proposes to address the challenges faced by the ultraperipheral region of the Azores Archipelago and through the lens of Landscape Architecture find ways to improve the resilience of this fragmented territory helping it to cope with an array of complex problems, from the impacts of climate change to economic and social deprivation or a growing pressure from the tourism sector.