Barcelona has been at the forefront of transformative urban planning for the last three decades, initially recognized for its makeover in preparation for the 1992 Olympic Games when the Mediterranean city was discovered as an architectural gem and tourist destination. Since then, city planners in Barcelona have undertaken transformative interventions that have created highly attractive, vibrant and walkable streets, plazas and public spaces. Initiatives in Barcelona such as the Superblocks, School Streets and Bike Bus have received international acclaim and praise for pushing the boundaries of best practice, prioritizing people over cars, and creating new public spaces with tactical and structural designs. Together, these projects have firmly established Barcelona as one of the most exciting cities in urban planning and design.

This certified course for urban planners and enthusiasts will walk you through the streets of Barcelona to see how city planners have radically restructures urban land uses, designs, and streetscapes to improve residents’ health and quality of life. We will examine lessons learned and best practices in this beautiful people-centric city. Participants will immerse themselves in the life of the city through site visits, walking tours and conversations with planning practitioners, in order to understand the rich history of the city, its relationship to local culture, social conditions and politics.

This course provides professional city planners with a unique opportunity to have an insider’s view of the changes that have taken place in this Mediterranean city. We will also discuss the global pressures that are typical of highly attractive global cities, including gentrification, tourism and the contestation of public space.

Certified planning professionals (AICP, CIP) will be prioritized for enrolment; however this course is open to all professionals in the fields of urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, and urban policy.

Highlights

• • Take a stroll in Barcelona’s Superblocks with the urban planners who envisioned, designed and implemented the world’s most ambitious city model to re-prioritize streets for people instead of cars  
  • Trace the origins of Barcelona’s founding as a Roman colony along the Mediterranean
  • Discover medieval Barcelona and stroll along Las Ramblas, one of the world’s most renown pedestrian promenades
  • Ride in Barcelona’s Bike Bus and meet with civic activists working to advance active travel for kids.
  • Be inspired by watching children play in the new School Streets
  • Meet with high level city planning officials in Barcelona, City Council members (current and former) to discuss current challenges  
  • Visit Antoni Gaudí’s architectural masterpiece, la Sagrada Familia and as well as Gaudí’s great work of landscape architecture, el Park Güell.

If you are interested in learning more about the 2024 trip scheduled for 26 May-1 June, 2024, please pre-register. 

For inquiries: info@citylabbcn.org