Oriol Nel·lo, Helena Cruz, Jorge Dioni and Antoni Ribas

A house with a garden and pool are part of a well consolidated social aspiration in Catalonia. This has led to an enormous diversity of social landscapes but also consumption of land and resources at levels that are now known to be unsustainable. Low-density housing developments today can concentrate everything from the wealthiest classes through to the most sleazy criminal activities. Suburban Catalonia is not any idealised version of the safe, comfortable home but a true reflection of social atomisation in the territory. Speakers in this session will discuss the foundational myths of these residential developments and fabrics, the recent sociological direction they have taken, and the shortcomings and challenges in terms of citizenship they represent in this aspect of Catalonia which, by action or omission, is not wholly urban.

This event is part of the programme of the seminar Challenges of the Low Density City which is co-organised by the Diputació de Barcelona (Provincial Government of Barcelona) and the CCCB.