Joana Rafael is an architect, researcher and lecturer. Her work focuses on (issues of) ecology, human geography and natural sciences, encompassing contemporary culture, media studies, art and technology. She combines architecture as a discipline of thought and design practice, reflecting on the boundaries of buildings, infrastructures and (radiological-)contaminated territories. Engages in speculative thinking and writing to develop a critical distance from anthropocentric understandings and attend to reciprocal relationships between humans and nature. Joana teaches Contextual Studies and Contemporary Culture-related courses. She is a member of CEGOT (Center for Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning) and CEAA (Centro de Estudos Arnaldo Araújo). Joana is a cofounder of REFINERY BOARD.
The Nuclear in The Ural Montains
Territorial Tensions between Humans and Atoms
+ ATLAS - Mapping the Nuclear Grave and Remediation-Related Campaigns
Presented at XXXIATNEUXX, Porto, Portugal
< published > in portuguese as O Nuclear nos Montes Urais: Tensōes Territoriais entre Humanos e Átomos
at Curadoria de Enigmas Territoriais de Ines Moreira, Parabola Critica Porto, 2022
The paper explores the impact of deadly emissions from Soviet nuclear facilities on a place that has undergone a series of conversions, from natural refuge to military headquarters, to nature reserve and touristic destination. This article sheds light on the interconnectedness of all life forms and the vulnerabilities of infrastructures, putting supposedly safe people at risk.
