Praxis Seminar with Moirika Reker - Urban fruits: The (public) orchard as a bridge to the landscape (Feb. 24, 2026)

[praxis-cful]

Praxis Seminar — Research Colloquium in Practical Philosophy

Session 11: Feb. 24, 2026, 17:15 (Lisbon Time, GMT+0)

Sala Mattos Romão (Department of Philosophy, Room C201.J) 

School of Arts and Humanities — University of Lisbon

Urban fruits: The (public) orchard as a bridge to the landscape

Moirika Reker (Praxis-CFUL)

Abstract

City and landscape co‑exist and complement each other. But they are, nonetheless, different realities: the result of distinct ideas and purposes – in fact, the problem arises when this distinction is not clear, when the extra‑urban space is no longer the otherness of the city, but a spreading urbanity; when the outside of the city becomes the non‑city instead of the landscape. Notwithstanding city and landscape being separate realities, there are elements in the city that act as bridges to the landscape. Some are ‘naturally’ there – a river that cuts through the city, the sea that borders it – others are interventions that successfully transport us back to the landscape (say, places with a landscape ‘essence’). The importance of such elements lies in them being a counterpoint to the city, bringing a certain balance, or acting as an antidote to cities that are too dense and overly human‑made. This presentation will address one of such bridging elements, a specific kind of urban garden, namely, the urban public orchard, to reflect on how it both enhances the urban aesthetic experience and provides clues for the betterment of city life.

All our sessions are free and open to the public.

More information about this and other Praxis-CFUL events: https://cful.letras.ulisboa.pt/praxis/programme/praxis-seminar/

The Praxis Seminar is a weekly, in-person event organized by Praxis-CFUL, the Practical Philosophy Research Group of the Centre of Philosophy of the University of Lisbon. This event is funded by Portuguese national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., within the project UID/00310/2025 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/00310/2025).

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Praxis-CFUL

Practical Philosophy Research Group

Center of Philosophy  University of Lisbon

https://cful.letras.ulisboa.pt/praxis/

Alameda da Universidade

1600-214 Lisboa

Portugal