Thomas Keenan and Julia Schulz-Dornburg

Combat cities are specifically designed for military training. Although their existence often goes unnoticed, these full-scale facilities have spread throughout the western hemisphere and have become an essential element in the simulation of wartime operations and defence strategies of the major military powers.

In this session, the architect and researcher, Julia Schulz-Dornburg, author of the book The Complete Guide to Combat City (Jovis, 2024), an architectural and cultural guide to these simulated towns, and Thomas Keenan, Associate Professor of Comparative Literature and Director of Human Rights Program at Bard College, New York, will analyse the construction of combat cities and explore the intersection between violence and urban space, while also considering the ethical challenges presented by this growing phenomenon