The deadline for the proposals' submissions for the CFP titled "Ricardo Bofill Abroad: The International Projection of the Taller de Arquitectura" (HPA issue no. 15) has been extended until February, 28. The issue will be edited by Antonio Pizza, Marta García Carbonero, Marisa García Vergara and Julio Garnica.
The Call for Papers is promoted by the research project RETRANSLATES01. Reflections, from Europe, on architecture in Spain: urban projects, public facilities, design and interventions in heritage (1976-2006), PID2022-138760NB-C21 funded by MCIN /AEI/10.13039/501100011033 DOI/ FEDER, EU.
About
In the early 1960s, Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill (1939-2022) designed his first works in Barcelona. These works represented a unique synthesis of local architectural tradition and the emerging challenge of various forms of urban utopia, which was unprecedented in Spain during this period.
In his first residential buildings, Ricardo Bofill skilfully introduced a code of realism that he shared with the rest of his contemporary Catalan colleagues. However, dissatisfied with the limitations of architecture and the political, economic and social reality of the country, he founded in 1963 the “Taller de Arquitectura” (Architecture Workshop; RBTA). It was an unorthodox, multidisciplinary, international team, comprised of architects, engineers, mathematicians, sculptors, painters, sociologists, writers, philosophers, musicians and film-makers. RBTA’s analyse the problem of the contemporary city and the relationship with and between its inhabitants in order to design a new, alternative architecture for the city.
Following Ricardo Bofill’s passing in 2022, the aim of issue 15 of HPA is to analyse the international trajectory of the Taller de Arquitectura from 1970 to the present day. This will be achieved through a critical, up-to-date approach. The architectural output of Ricardo Bofill is the subject of a case study that aims to contribute to academic and public debate. Bofill’s work is cross-cutting, bold, and polemic, making him a controversial yet indispensable figure in the recent history of international architecture.
We would also remind here the potential areas of research indicated by the editors that can be explored without limitations:
RBTA beyond Spain: relations between Spanish and international works.
The reception of the work of RBTA in international mass media.
The "French Years" of RBTA: between urban planning, political management and relations with power.
The international networks of members of the Taller's professional team.
