Taught In English

There is no language prerequisite for courses at this language level.

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
This course examines how Barcelona evolved since its foundation by the Romans to
the present day. By comparing Barcelona to others European cases (Paris, London,
Berlin, Venice, Amsterdam and Rome) this course will give a wide understanding of
Urbanism and Art, focusing on Architecture and Decoration of some Major European
Cities. At the end of this course students will be able to deal with some important
European Art Styles and identify what sort of building they are watching. At the same
time, students will visit some places in Barcelona and the surrounding area in order to
experience Barcelona’s past and present.
CONTENT
1. Introduction to City Planning
1st week
Intro and Syllabus. Some ideas on Urbanism. The birth of the City in
Mesopotamia, India and China.
2nd week
Some ideas on Urbanism. How to organise people. Cities and commerce.
2. Ancient and Medieval Barcelona
3rd week
Barcino and the Romans, 20 BCE-410 CE. Rome, a city based society.
Barcelona and the Visigoths, 410-1492 CE. Visigoths and Muslims, when Barcelona
was a secondary city
4th week
Barcelona as a Capital of the Catalan Counties. A Pyrenean Society. Barcelona
as a Mediterranean City. Gothic, Power and the Catalan Mediterranean
5th week
America, the Mediterranean and the Decline of the traditional trade. The New
Economy of the Atlantic Cities. London and Amsterdam. Venice, Genoa and
Valencia
Course: Barcelona. City, Planning and Architecture
2
3. The New Barcelona
6th week
Mid term
Reading: Allen J. Scott, Global city-regions and the New World System
7th week
Reading: Eduardo Aibar, Constructuing a city: the Cerdà Plan for the Extension
of Barcelona
Reading: Haizam Amirah Fernández, The Barcelona Process
8th week
Reading: Guy Julier, Barcelona’s design, Catalonia’s political Economy and the
New Spain, 1980-6
Reading: José Enrique Ruiz Domenech, The Urban Origins of Barcelona
9th week
Barcelona and the Catalan Industrialism, 1800-1939. Is Barcelona an Industrial
City?. Barcelona and the Catalan Rebirth, 1800-1939. Culture, Language and
Architecture
10th week
Modernisme and l’Eixample. The Growth of Barcelona: Gracia and other
neighbourhoods
11th week
Modernisme and l’Eixample. Gaudí, Puig I Cadafalch and Sagnier: Seny I
Rauxa. The Civil War and Francisco Franco. Surviving under fire. Cities and
War: Barcelona, Paris, Leningrad and Sarajevo
12th week â€" HAND IN PAPERS
The New Barcelona. Barcelona and the Olympics. Mediterranean cities today:
Naples and Istanbul
13th week
Barcelona today. New Architecture, new Urbanism. Immigration, Gentrification
and Identity
14th week
Final Exam. Closing session
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mandatory readings:
Eduardo Aibar, Constructuing a city: the Cerdà Plan for the Extension of Barcelona
GRADING
The final grade of each student is determined considering the following weights:
Mid Term Exam (30%), Papers (50%), Final Exam (20%).