UIC Barcelona School of Architecture will bring together architects from reputable national and international studios at the 2026 Foros lecture series, which is due to take place on 8, 15, 22 and 29 April in the Aula Magna at the University.
Under the title “Career Paths in Contemporary Architecture”, the programme will introduce students to different ways of practising architecture today. The aim of the series is to broaden their perspective on the profession and inform them about potential careers within the sector, something which can be difficult to envision as a university student.
Across four thematic sessions, several active architects will discuss their career paths and explore issues such as the internationalisation of architecture studios, new opportunities linked to technology, collaborative work models and the consolidation of studios rooted in the local context.
The 2026 Foros eecture series is organised by architects, PhD holders and lecturers Borja Ferrater and David Abondano.
“Through this series, our aim is to foster new perspectives and help students understand the opportunities available in the professional world,” explains David Abondano. “Listening to architects who have already embarked down that path sheds light on how the early years of a career may unfold and how to approach professional development with greater clarity,” he adds.
“One of the strengths of the series is that the speakers are alums of the School itself: architects who, just a few years ago, were seated in these same classrooms and who have now built highly diverse professional careers,” asserts Borja Ferrater.
“For students, it is incredibly valuable to hear first-hand how they have developed their careers and see that there are numerous possible paths within architecture,” he adds.
SESSION SCHEDULE
8 April: International Architecture
· ELIA Architecture: Borja Ferrater
· MASS Design Group: Anton Larsen
This session analyses models of global practice and professional experiences developed in international contexts. It addresses topics such as professional mobility, intercultural work and architecture with social impact.
15 April: Digital Entrepreneurs
· Bigshots: Javier Solans
· Additive Spaces: Jesus Subirana
This session addresses new professional opportunities linked to technology, architectural visualisation, computational design and digital entrepreneurship.
22 April: Collaborative Methods
· Arquitectura-G: Jordi Ayala
· Addenda Architects: Jose Zabala
This session examines professional models developed in studios founded by alums, versus career paths based on flexible and dynamic collaborations.
29 April: Local Architecture
· BxD Arquitectura: Francesc Buixeda
· Agora Arquitectura: Joan Casals and Jose Luis Cisneros
This session explores the consolidation of architecture studios in Spain through public competitions, collective housing and architecture rooted in the local territory.
The Foros lecture series is open to the public.
With initiatives such as Foros 2026, UIC Barcelona brings the professional world closer to students as they study, bridging the gap that often exists between academic education and the realities of professional practice.
