The Círculo Ecuestre organized the conference “Barcelona 2026: Year of Architecture”, which featured prominent experts in the field of architecture: Maria Buhigas, architect and head of the Barcelona City Council; Benedetta Tagliabue, a renowned architect with an international profile; and Josep Lluís Mateo, architect and professor. The event, sponsored by CaixaBank, was presented by Enrique Lacalle, president of the Círculo Ecuestre, and moderated by Jose Ribas Folguera, architect.



During the conference, the speakers addressed the role of architecture and urban planning in the contemporary city, paying particular attention to how urban identity is built while avoiding both nostalgia and “empty imagery,” and what priorities should guide the transformation of a dense Mediterranean city like Barcelona.

Barcelona, World Architecture Capital 2026: “for the citizens”

In her address, Maria Buhigas argued that Barcelona, as World Architecture Capital 2026, must seize this opportunity to bring architecture closer to all citizens: “This is not a capital for the profession,” she said, and called for a shift from “you understand” to “let me explain,” so that the message reaches the maximum number of people. Buhigas emphasized the role of urban planning as a core responsibility of local government: “it transforms physical space to improve people’s lives,” and warned of the risk that the capital designation could become a “poisoned chalice” if not managed properly.




When asked about priorities among affordable housing, public space, and amenities, Buhigas rejected the logic of choosing only one path and advocated for acting in parallel: “we have to do both things at the same time.” In this context, she offered an interpretation based on urban structure: the urban fabric where daily life unfolds “only occupies 25%” of the city's surface area (excluding Collserola and the coast), and she pointed out the need to intervene both in public space and in city and metropolitan strategies.

Buhigas also called for innovation mechanisms “free from nostalgia” and the need for strategies “as intelligent as Cerdà's,” but “adaptable and adjustable over time.”

Architecture as well-being and built quality

Benedetta Tagliabue focused on architecture's capacity to improve daily life: she advocated for a vision of “a city more for its citizens” and asserted that quality architecture can contribute to well-being: “creating architecture that makes people feel better.” Tagliabue emphasized that “architecture is powerful” and that the discipline has the strength to “improve people's lives.”




For his part, Josep Lluís Mateo defined architecture as the activity that gives “dreams, ideas, and collective needs” a “physical presence,” highlighting the value of the built environment in an increasingly virtual world. Regarding the obstacles to good architecture, he pointed to the mediation between public administration and private development, warning that “without a commitment to quality, it’s a disaster.”




The debate also included a reflection on public competitions as a tool for promoting architectural quality. On this point, the importance of juries being able to “talk about architecture” and the need to professionalize the processes were emphasized. The value of making them more participatory and transparent was also mentioned, along with the need to revive formats that allow projects to be presented and brought closer to the public.

The Barcelona of the Future: Materiality, Knowledge, and a Living City

In the final stretch, the conversation shifted to the Barcelona that future generations will see. Maria Buhigas argued that the city “still has a future” and the capacity to adapt, and pointed out that this future must be written with room for time and future generations.

Benedetta Tagliabue highlighted the network of schools and the local capacity to “get things done,” emphasizing that Barcelona maintains a culture of reality and action: “Barcelona knows how to be a benchmark city… here, reality is deeply valued, and things get done.”

For his part, Josep Lluís Mateo expressed his hope that Barcelona does not become an empty and excessively touristy city, citing Venice as a cautionary example: a “very beautiful” city, but “empty” and transformed almost exclusively into a tourist destination. Faced with this risk, he championed the ambition to consolidate Barcelona as “a center for the production of knowledge and high-level architecture.”