By Ewelina Lepionko
Barcelona has been named as the UIA's 2026 World Capital of Architecture by UNESCO and will be hosting the International Union of Architect's World Congress two years after the event in Copenhagen.
The city joined the list with lastly chosen Copenhagen and Rio de Janeiro.
Barcelona will take as an example the relationship of the city and its architecture to discuss a viable and sustainable future.
Barcelona named UNESCO World Capital of Architecture for 2026 https://t.co/LXaTea81o4
— ArchDaily (@ArchDaily) July 30, 2021
"The celebration of this event is an excellent opportunity to strengthen the role of Barcelona, Catalonia, and Spain as centers of architectural production and thought contemporary and urban design ", says the Deputy Mayor for Urbanism of the Consistory of Catalonia, Janet Sanz
Barcelona and Beijing were both contenders for the 2026 title, but the Catalan city took the lead with its winning bid titled “One today, one tomorrow”, which explores the city’s approach to sustainability and the future of the built environment. Barcelona’s nomination has obtained 147 votes, compared to 129 in Beijing.
The city is seen internationally as a leader in superblock construction, urban forests, and gender-based urban planning. Barcelona will also be awarded an organization fee of €150,000 as part of the title. Arte for Excelencias has more on the city’s architecture-related initiatives here.
archinect
Along with the UIA Congress, throughout 2026 a multitude of cultural activities will be held in Barcelona, in which other countries will collaborate, “with the aim of transferring the whole of the society the importance and value of architecture and urbanism “.
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— The Architect's Newspaper (@archpaper) July 28, 2021
The congress is slated to coincide with the long-awaited completion of the Sagrada Familia in time for the 100th anniversary of the tragic death of its architect Antoni Gaudí.
UNESCO and the UIA launched the World Capital of Architecture initiative to highlight the key role of architecture, city planning, and culture in shaping urban identity and sustainable urban development. The city designated as the World Capital of Architecture becomes a global forum at the forefront of discussions on contemporary urban planning and architectural issues.
The UIA congresses have been held since 1948 and its objective has always been to address the challenges faced by society from the knowledge provided by architecture professionals. These congresses, which are held every three years, are linked to the designation of the host city as the UIA-Unesco World Capital of Architecture.
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Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is known for its art and architecture. The fantastical Sagrada Família church and other modernist landmarks designed by Antoni Gaudí dot the city. Museu Picasso and Fundació Joan Miró feature modern art by their namesakes. City history museum MUHBA, includes several Roman archaeological sites.
