The Sagrada Familia, Architecture award and Urbanism in Barcelona -

In a surprising move, back in February the Barcelona council awarded the annual “Premio de Arquitectura y Urbanismo Ciudad de Barcelona” award, which recognises the best construction of the year, to Antoni Gaudi´s Sagrada Familia – or rather, to the project carried out last year – the continuation of the Catalan architect´s plans, which have been deemed impossible for many years.

The decision of the jury – presided over Carlos Ferrater, along with Xavier Monteys, Daniel Giralt Miracle, Zaida Muxí and Mónica Gili – has provoked a controversy. For a group of important architects, and various cultural figures and city-dwellers (who have organised a protest), it is inappropriate to consider the Sagrada Familia a building of 2010. Many believe that the decision of the jury was influenced by pressure from the tourist industry, rather than a fair, group decision – and that the public should have had more of a say in the final outcome.

Another criticism has been that the granting of the award to the Sagrada Familia is not only an insult to contemporary Barcelona projects, but also that it gives a message of reactionary bias, characterised by the defense of restorative works – a break with the “neos” (“neo-kitsch“) who are in direct opposition to such types of works; such as for instance that of Museo Can Framis de Poble Neu, which was transformed from an old factory to a new public space, and the winner of last year´s award. The committee has been attacked for favouring remodelled buildings, and “imitation” works over projects which work hard at new, innovative use of materials and space – particularly in the context of a city in serious need of more living space and a higher quality of life.

Indeed, this is an important issue, because the Premio de Arquitectura y Urbanismo Ciudad de Barcelona award ought to place a higher value on the improvement of the relation between the city, its inhabitants and its architecture. For a number of architects, this has always been the key criteria for the awarding of the prize. The decision to hand the award to the Sagrada Familia appears to be an about turn – towards a city solely geared towards its tourists, as a spectacle or attraction.

The uproar has also placed a question mark over the annual nature of the award.

For more information: http://www.sagradafamilia.cat