Event

Lights and Shadows of Barcelona’s Urban Planning

This Debate at the CCCB is to be held on the occasion of the publication of the book Llums i ombres de l’urbanisme de Barcelona (Lights and Shadows of Barcelona’s Urban Planning, Editorial Empúries, 2010), by Jordi Borja who raises a number of basic questions about the development of the city. Is there a “before” and an “after” the Olympic Games? Has there been any continuity of public urban planning since the end of the 1970s? In what sense has Barcelona ceased to be a reference? Is it true that Barcelona brings together “the worst work of the best architects”, as some people claim? Is the bid for the 2022 Winter Games a brilliant idea or evidence of a dearth of ideas? Also discussed in this debate will be issues such as the metropolitan challenge, the role of immigration and tourism in the city.

Participants:

Jordi Balló, lecturer in Audiovisual Communication at the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona.

Mireia Belil, geographer, General Director of the Universal Forum of Cultures Foundation.

Lluís Permanyer, journalist and chronicler of the city of Barcelona.

Jordi Borja, geographer and urban planner, co-director of the post-graduate degree in City Management at the Open University of Catalonia.