BarcelonaNOW is a one-day event organised by the American Institute of Architects New York, in collaboration with the Fundació COAC, which presents the city as a laboratory of urbanism. Coinciding with Barcelona’s designation as host of the UIA 2026 Congress and as UNESCO World Capital of Architecture, the programme highlights the many contributions of Catalan architecture to global design.

The programme is structured around four themes: community, culture, resilience and public space. Across several sessions, more than a dozen architects and urban planners, including both emerging voices and established professionals, present proposals and initiatives addressing three major urban challenges: neighbourhood regeneration, the revitalisation of industrial heritage, and the delivery of affordable social housing.

These three strands of work share a common horizon: how to shape fairer, more sustainable communities through architecture and urban planning. The programme thus offers a space for dialogue, designed to rethink how twenty-first-century global cities can tackle their challenges by drawing on Barcelona’s concrete experience.

BarcelonaNOW is supported by cultureNOW and the festival of Sant Jordi in New York.

Part 1: History of Urbanism in Barcelona

• Joan Busquets, Professor of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard GSD
• Maria Buhigas, Chief Architect at Barcelona City Council

Part 2: Transformative Projects/International Teams

• The Three Chimneys
  Guido Hartray, AIA, Partner at MARVEL
  Daria de Seta, Partner at Garcés-de Seta-Bonet Arquitectes
• Fira Barcelona Business Center
  Agustín Pérez Torres, Partner at BIG BCN

Part 3: Urban Initiatives in Barcelona

• La Sagrera, Transport Hub
  Fermín Vázquez, Founder of b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos
• Social Housing and Community Building
  Josep Maria Borrell, Director of IMPSOL
• Gateways to Collserola
  Vicente Guallart, Founder of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia
• Superblocks
  Xavier Matilla, Co-founder of Territoris XLM

Part 4: Showcase of Emerging and Established Architects from Barcelona

• Anna Bonet, Partner at Garcés-de Seta-Bonet
  Daria de Seta, Partner at Garcés-de Seta-Bonet
• Albert Casas, Partner at Metrònom
• Marta Peris, Founder of Peris+Toral Arquitectes
  Josep Toral, Founder of Peris+Toral Arquitectes
• Adrià Orriols, Founder of h3o Arquitectes
• Ivet Gasol Escuer, Partner at Cierto Estudio
• Roger Tudó, Founder of H Arquitectes
• Fermín Vázquez, Founder of b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos
• Claudi Aguiló, Partner at DATAAE
• Bet Capdeferro, Founder of bosch.capdeferro arquitectura
• Carme Pinós, Founder of Estudi Carme Pinós

Part 5: Panel Discussion/Q&A
Moderated by Guim Costa Calsamiglia, Dean of the COAC