Why is supposedly “advanced” architecture appreciated by so many of today’s dictatorial rulers, and what does this tell us about … More
Category: Notes
The Phenomenology of Solar Energy
I recently installed a thermal-solar hot water system on my rooftop, and it has profoundly changed the way I live, … More
Is Tourism the Only Thing Killing Barcelona?
A few days ago, The Guardian published a piece titled “Why Tourism is Killing Barcelona” that describes the damage that “overtourism” … More
Knock on Stone: A Brief, Informal Acoustic Experiment at the Barcelona Pavilion
The original Barcelona Pavilion is believed to be the first time that stone was “hung” in the form of thin … More
Mega-Market
Barcelona’s biggest market, Mercat Sant Antoni, has finally opened its doors after a renovation process lasting nearly a decade. The … More
A New Low: the World’s Tallest Building
Faced with a half-day layover in Dubai recently, I decided to visit the tallest building in the world. I could … More
A Guide to the Many Flags Visible in Barcelona These Days
[Originally published in Art4d Magazine] Barcelona is currently festooned with flags hanging from apartment balconies. It’s been this way especially … More
Spongifying the City
Esponjamiento urbano, a Spanish term that literally translates as “urban spongification”, refers to the process of aerating dense, historical urban … More
Notes from a Recent Construction Site Visit
I was recently fortunate enough to be shown a truly interesting work of architecture currently under construction in Barcelona: La … More
