Here we are, in the ninth month of coronavirus crisis, eagerly awaiting the birth, any day now, of a new … More
Category: unsolicited text
Dear Mayor Ada Colau:
Dear Ms Colau, internationally esteemed mayor of Barcelona. I write this letter in English because many citizens of Barcelona are … More
Barcelona, posa’t guarra (get dirty)
Welcome to Carrer Príncep de Viana in the Raval neighbourhood of Barcelona, a small, normally quiet street lined with trees … More
Canadà Park: Barcelona’s Maple Leaf Themed Suburb
As an architect who is blessed with having double citizenship –Spanish as well as Canadian– I was quite amused, while … More
Pop (-Up) Urbanism in the City of Design
Barcelona is known around the world today as a city of design. Its urban grid, buildings, parks, squares, streets, benches, … More
Reassessing the Street-in-the-Sky in Times of Coronavirus
As Covid 19 spreads its way around the world, a fear of urban density is similarly catching on, with suburbs, … More
Circular Container Housing
Does the sight of absurd architectural projects containing shipping containers make you cringe? Do you break into a cold sweat … More
Cocooning in Balconville
With lockdown in effect in many parts of the world, and urban streets and squares largely empty, residential balconies have … More
It's Now or Never
The whole world is grinding to a halt right now in what is surely the biggest crisis in several generations, … More
The Politics of Architecture
Why is supposedly “advanced” architecture appreciated by so many of today’s dictatorial rulers, and what does this tell us about … More
The Phenomenology of Solar Energy
I recently installed a thermo-solar water heater on my rooftop, and it has profoundly changed the way I live, making … More
A Heroic Architect-Politician Exists
A previously little known architect is the topic of conversation in Spain right now. The discussion has nothing to do … More
Eco-Monsters
A recent news item I came across stated: “If SUV drivers were a nation, they would rank seventh in the world … More
Gaudí’s Essential Hut
El Xalet de Catllaràs is a mountain refuge by Antoni Gaudí completed in 1905 for workers of the Asland portland … More
Electoral Architecture
Elections for the mayorship of Barcelona are coming up later this year, and we’re already being delivered promises in the … More
Fake Architecture News II
A few posts back, I discussed “fake architecture news” (FAN) in blogs and social media, describing an offer I had … More
How Much Does Your Conscience Weigh, Mr. Foster?
Dear Norman, I just read the following in the Architect’s Journal: “Amid an escalating crisis over the missing journalist Jamal … 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
