Ciutat Vella, Barcelona

Beginning in January 1st 2005 until April 4th 2005, 15 students from my program went to Barcelona, Spain to study architecture. What I learned was a hell of a lot more than just architecture. Rather, a way of life substantially different from what I’ve known and become accustomed to. Due to Francisco Franco’s reign in 1939, the then culturally and politically repressed people of Barcelona turned to anarchistic protest in the 70’s to rupture Franco’s dictatorship. It worked, thankfully. Although the people of Barcelona seem to have a strong identity with their province (place) and their culture, it seems that there is a sense of tension or anxiety to its relatively new reconstruction. But it’s just that, which makes it such a wonderful place to be. The old and new are juxtaposed just about everywhere you go, which makes for a complex and multi-layered experience. I won’t go on too much about how amazing the many cultural institutions, exhibits, architecture, city organization, general urban lifestyle etc. are, instead I’ve posted up a few pics. Enjoy...