The Urban Century: Theory and Practice

Urban Foundation Course

Fall 2010 / Class 10, November 8

Modes of Intervention 1

Urban Plans and Theories

Part II

Paris, 1789

Other 19th Century Urban Plans: Haussmann (1852- 1870)

Paris, Haussmann Plan 1850s

Streets and boulevards,

façade regulations

opened to real state

Water and sewers

Private and public investments

Annexation of suburbs…

1888

International Exhibition

BCN

Renewal

&

Exhibitions

September 11, 1714: The city falls to the King Felipe V

Bourbons Dynasty - Building of the of the citadel

demolished in 1868 Park 1888 Universal Exhibition

Parc de la Citadel

1929

Barcelona population: 1,000,000

Second International Exposition in Barcelona, Montjuïc

Mies s Pavillon

1929

International Exhibition

... the city as a stage ... ...monuments.... vistas... ...a celebration of the city...

Mies Van Der Rohe - German Pavilion

...contrasts...

Pueblo Español

Today it is another neigbourhood Not demolished, responding to people’s demands

Le Corbusier, Plan Voisin for Paris 1922-1929

contrasted with

the existing

city structure

in the context

of the

inner city

Applies the concepts develop in the Contemporary City of 3 million people (1922)

24 skyscrapers arranged around a central traffic hub

city crown within an large green area,

divided by a system of hierarchically arranged streets (reign of the automobile)

The four functions (work, dwelling, leisure and traffic) clearly segregated

La Ville Radieuse, 1935 (The Radiant City)

Used in The Athens Charter (1943)

Segregation of Function Differentiation of Urban Functions,

Methodical separation

A Universal Formal Solution Proposed as an instrument

which can and must be used to

solve problems in architecture and

urban planning

at any time…. any place…

A concentrated and dense City

Strong Centrality

Skyscrapers? inspired in New York..!

The Functional City in Barcelona, 1932 !

Le Corbusier and Gacpac, Macia plan

* No Gatcpac architect involved in the BCN renewal of 1929 exhibition

•Redistribution of urban land and rationalization of transport and communication and

infrastructure

* Business center at the waterfront

* Keeping the existing city (Barrio Gotico and Eixample) + 2 new districts of Super block

dwellings, linked by a new superhighway bisecting the city connecting

* with the industrial area and “Ciutat de Repos” on the Mediterranean coast

After the Civil War: Franco regime

by 1950 > 500,000 people came to the city

chaotic and speculative growth

1960 > 1,600,000 inhabitants

poverty and “barracas”

1975 > Franco dies

1979 > first elected mayor in 40 years

1980 > 1,755,000 inhabitants

…

New School graduate Pasquall Maragall becomes Mayor of Barcelona (1982-1996)

and (2004-2006) he was President of the Generalitat.

in 1987 BCN wins the bid for the Olympic Games 1992 !

Olympic Games 1992

Changes in Barcelona, & changes in its perception in the world stage

…towards becoming a Global City…

Crucial Role of the Municipality and the community

Building of Villa Olimpica, and Olimpic Stadium

But, also, remodelation and building infrastructure

streets, trees, housing rehabilitation

in peripheral and dilapidated neighborhoods

who won today…??

Villa Olimpica

Stars archs.: Ghery / Foster

Plaza Olimpica, Montjuic

Santiago Calatrava

Santiago Calatrava

Bridge over train

Santiago Calatrava

Enhancing

infraestructure

in Ensanche

Inner City rehabilitation

El Raval rehabilitation

… and BCN looking for more … >

Barcelona, 2004

Universal Forum of Cultures

Competitive cultural features

Public works

Infrastructure

Completing Cerda’s Urban Plan

Diagonal Mar

Diagonal Mar

Area del Llobregat

A regional future for BCN?

a future?

a future?

“This is the paradox of urbanization. The whole is projected,

its dimensions are staked out, plans are published, and the model

is exhibited.

Then perhaps one epoch lacks the creative power, another the

economic power, and another the political stability to carry out

the plan. Only parts are completed. The next or a later

generation takes up the idea.

Again plans are developed, parts completed. But each part,

throughout the future, will speak of the whole from which is has

sprung.

As centuries pass, the totalitykk unites into an image of

the centuries: multiform, burdened and tested by history,

a work of succeeding ages, a dwelling place that could ,

and still can, convey the forces that formed it.”

Wolfgang Braunfels,

Urban Design in Western Europe: Regime and Architecture, 900-1900, p.371

End class 10 Urb Theories