Barcelona is an obvious choice to study contemporary urban studies. The Catalonian capital is currently undergoing a political situation, which over the past decades have greatly influenced urban development and the urban life in the city. The city has influences from its history within the roman empire (which we further discuss through a day trip to Girona), and at the same time, it is known for a very strong identity in terms of politics, society, and culture such as food and arts.
Furthermore, Barcelona has unique infrastructure within L’Eixample, the superblocks, which in combination with the coast and former Olympic villages, creates an urban playground not to be seen anywhere else in Europe. In Barcelona, you discover how the city has become a focal point for cultural expression and social movements, as well as a venue for human interaction and experience.
Through bike and walking tours, lectures from local historians, meetings with urban planners, and visits to various museums, you deepen your knowledge of the history, development, and possible futures for Barcelona.
Tour Objectives
- Compare and contrast the urban infrastructure of Barcelona and Copenhagen
- Explore how socio-political history informs the current development of urban spaces
- Further understand how to read a city through its architecture, art, history, literature, politics, and urban layout
Possible Activities
- Visit Center for Public Impact and hear about their urban lab projects
- Visit and workshop with Fablab Barcelona
- Go on a bike tour of the city, including the gothic quarters and L’eixample, focusing on scale and infrastructure
- Day trip to Girona, one of the most historic cities in Spain