Mapping Barcelona: Subversive transformations of a dominant culture

Marco, Elena; Royo, Arcadio; Molina, Juana Maria

Abstract

This paper looks at concepts of identity and popular culture within the context of Barcelona. It shows how Spanish traditional cultural models, and especially the figure of the architect, are changing in alternative and subversive ways.

The figure of the architect in Spain, and in Barcelona in particular, is changing to cope with a climate of uncertainty and economical and political difficulty. The level of unemployment of architects in Barcelona has reached 60% and half of the architecture practices doing business five years ago have now closed , , . Spain’s construction industry or what it known as the ‘non-productive brick’ has collapsed, leading to substantial numbers of architects unable to work within their chosen profession . These highly trained professionals are having to adapt their skills, and their identities, in order to survive.

Barcelona as a city is considered an urban model, with an autonomy, vision and strong leadership. It has transformed through a process of revitalisation affecting its urban and social culture . Much of this successful urban regeneration was fuelled by major international events (e.g. 1888 Universal Exhibition, 2004 Forum of Cultures) and not least the post-optimism and investment driven by its hosting of the 1992 Olympic Games. It is now a city which has become a neatly packaged brand attracting high end tourism and promoting an urban model that had widely copied at international scale , , .
It is therefore all the more poignant that a city famous for its cultural heritage, and in particular its architecture, is currently playing host to the decimation of its architectural infrastructure, the architects themselves.

This paper investigates the changing vocation of the architect. It shows how Spanish architects are having to ‘recycle themselves’, and how they have to explore alternative and subversive ways to cope with financial austerity in a city considered a model of urban success (see Figure 1). We see through the eyes of professional ‘recycled’ Catalan architects how the city is perceived.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: TRANSGRESSION
• Start Date: Nov 21, 2013
• End Date: Nov 23, 2013
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 7, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: Barcelona, subversive, culture
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/926301
• Publisher URL: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/et/research/transgression/conferencedetails.aspx
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : TRANSGRESSION