Transformations in the built environment impact marine landscapes, affecting water quality, biodiversity, sediments and fisheries. Conversely, marine dynamics such as storms, erosion and sea level changes reconfigure and challenge our ways of inhabiting the coastline.

Considering the Atlantic Area as a shared space enables us to examine the continuities and discontinuities between coasts, islands and estuaries, regardless of administrative boundaries. Of interest are the geohistories of connectivity, such as fishing, coastal shipping, migration, the canning industry and cod, sardine and whale routes, as well as contemporary infrastructure, such as marine energy, digitalisation and logistics. Also of interest are the social and community networks and dynamics that sustain marine life and local cooperation mechanisms, as well as participatory strategies for climate adaptation and community resilience in contexts of risk.

Key questions that arise from this perspective include: What relational cartographies describe the Atlantic Arc? How are its production cycles, port regimes, and material cultures intertwined? What role do participatory architecture and co-design play in regenerating coastal spaces and including communities in decision-making?