Ildefons Cerdà's urbanism today
A hundred and sixty years after the approval of Plà Cerdà, the Mediterranean Environmental Research Group (GRAM) of the Faculty of Geography and History of the University of Barcelona organized the 2nd Cerdà Sessions. Titled “La re-invenció de lʼespai públic” (reinvention of public space), the session will treat current questions related to the city and the territory, through several conferences, roundtables and participative activities.
A hundred and sixty years after the approval of Plà Cerdà, the Mediterranean Environmental Research Group (GRAM) of the Faculty of Geography and History of the University of Barcelona organized the 2nd Cerdà Sessions. Titled “La re-invenció de lʼespai públic” (reinvention of public space), the session will treat current questions related to the city and the territory, through several conferences, roundtables and participative activities.
Ildefons Cerdà (1815-1876), known as the creator of Eixample in Barcelona and founder of modern urbanism, is also considered a scientist who proposed imaginative solutions to the problems of his time. Lack of hygiene, the need to create green spaces in a busy city, the planning for a new living structure and the distribution of the interurban traffic were some of the factors the architect considered when creating the urban planning in 1860.
Thinking how to create public space is necessary in towns and cities, therefore the 2nd Cerdà Sessions prepared an activity program to analyse this aspect in our days. Its aim is to re-think what Cerdà planned one hundred and sixty years ago, with his urban plan, which is still present in the urban appearance of Barcelona.
The meeting will include several conferences by national and international experts, as well as roundtables, workshops and two sessions to reflect on the public space. Also, considering the ideas of the architect and his global view of the territory, the last session will take place in Manlleu so as to change the analysis and add a comparative view between big cities and smaller towns.
These activities will take place on January 30 and 31 in Aula Magna in the Faculty of Geography and History of the UB, and February 1 in Museu del Ter in Manlleu (Osona).
For more information, please read the program of the sessions.