Architect and urban planner Salvador Moreno Peralta was inducted this Friday as a full member of the Andalusian Academy of Economic and Territorial Sciences. During his inaugural speech, titled 'The comarcal nature of the city: the role of medium-sized cities in globalization. The case of Málaga', he warned about the need for the city to choose to be a 'global destination' and avoid becoming a 'collapsed and uninhabitable provincial Dubai'.
Moreno Peralta cautioned against being blinded by 'the attraction of the present' or current data, urging instead to recognize that the Malagueñan capital is already a 'city-region'. He advocated for avoiding an 'aldean yearning for modernity' and understanding that 'Málaga is more than Málaga', promoting a vision of the capital, coast, and interior as a joint network.
He argued that Málaga's strength as a 'technological capital' must be based on the 'larger, complex, and varied geographical reality' of its territory. He proposed that the capital act as the main node within a 'city-territory' model, suggesting that 'the overcrowding of the capital could be relieved towards those beautiful towns'.
The urban planner reviewed Málaga's evolution, from an economy based on 'construction, tourism, and traditional services' to its positioning in the global technological economy. He highlighted the creation of the Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía (PTA), now Málaga Tech Park, as a key turning point for young people to pursue technological careers without needing to emigrate.
He also warned about the capital's urban development, which 'has almost reached the limits of its municipal term', and the lack of sufficient 'service infrastructure and interurban mobility'. In response, he proposed a model focused on connection with the province's regions such as Axarquía, Valle del Guadalhorce, Antequera, and Ronda.
Moreno Peralta championed the role of these regions within the 'city-region' model, suggesting that the province should function as 'a city in itself' where the capital is the 'central district' and the other municipalities form a complementary network. He emphasized the importance of green areas and the countryside as landscape and productive resources, contrasting with the 'coastal construction boom'.
Finally, he concluded that 'the future of the planet is decided in cities', but insisted that Málaga must grow with 'the strength and authenticity of the genuine', focusing on territorial identity, regional connection, and the enhancement of the entire province.
