Lorena Torres takes part in OPEN Bilbao 2026 with a photographic walk through Zorrotzaurre
Lorena Torres, a lecturer on the Master's in Landscape Design and Sustainable Urbanism at ESDESIGN, Higher School of Design of Barcelona, part of Planeta Formación y Universidades, took part in the tenth edition of OPEN Bilbao, held from 28 September to 4 October, alongside architect Lara del Valle Andrade. Together, they led an urban safari through Zorrotzaurre to explore the relationship between architecture, memory and urban identity.
OPEN Bilbao is a festival that brings architecture and urban planning closer to the public by opening up the city's buildings and spaces and organising walks, workshops, exhibitions and meetings. In its tenth edition, the programme featured 101 open spaces, the highest number to date, and extended its activities over the course of a week.
The urban safari offered a two-and-a-half-hour walk through Zorrotzaurre, inviting participants to observe the elements that shape the neighbourhood's identity beyond major architectural developments. The transformation of the island, linked to Zaha Hadid's 2004 master plan, provided a starting point for reflecting on the coexistence of urban planning and the spontaneous expressions of those who live in and move through the area.
Photography was one of the main tools used during the activity. Participants also collected items such as leaves, stickers, textures and material fragments to document traces of memory and the ways people make the space their own. The material collected will form part of a collective virtual exhibition, bringing together different perspectives on the neighbourhood's identity and prompting reflection on how the city is built and inhabited.
This participation reflects ESDESIGN's commitment to a vision of design that takes into account the environment, people and the social dynamics that shape spaces. The activity highlights the value of observation and critical analysis in understanding how architecture and everyday uses contribute to building urban identity.
