The first Ibero-American Architecture Conference took place on 23 and 24 July in the Saló de Graus at UIC Barcelona, with the aim of broadening perspectives on contemporary Ibero-American architecture through the participation of five leading architects from different Latin American countries.

The participants and the titles of their sessions were: 

• Leandro Alegre (TATÚ Arquitectura): “Architecture as a gateway to our identity”
• Cássio Sauer (sauermartins): “Attempts at understanding”
• Gabriel Biagoni: “Domestic space and collective life”
• Augusto Roman y José Bauer (Roman Bauer Arquitectos): “Doing the minimum”
• José Cubilla: “Culture, Material/Reciprocity”

Fredy Massad, organiser of the conference and lecturer at UIC Barcelona School of Architecture, said that Ibero-American architecture “is enjoying a strong moment”. “The conference seeks to challenge the notion that architecture in Ibero-America is homogeneous. Architecture from the region is often viewed through the lens of poverty, when in reality the differences are not so significant when compared with what is being done in Spain,” he said.

In an interview ahead of the conference, Massad reflected on the current challenges facing urban development in Spain and Ibero-America. “It is essential to reflect critically on how buildings and cities were conceived throughout the twentieth century. In Barcelona, barely two decades ago, as illustrated by the case of the Fòrum, which opened in 2004, architectural thinking was still dominated by large-scale concrete construction. Today, those approaches are undergoing profound reassessment,” the lecturer explained.

Massad noted that, in most cases, governments in Ibero-America are not accustomed to investing in public space. “In Spain there are more public architectural competitions, which make it easier for young architects to enter the profession, whereas in Ibero-America most projects are commissioned by private clients,” he explained.

The conference, organised by the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture, brought together architects and academics to discuss the global challenges facing the profession. In an interview with UIC Barcelona, Gabriel Biagoni, one of the speakers who delivered the lecture “Domestic space and collective life”, highlighted the issue of self-build housing in Argentina.

 “Many people solve their housing problems without the involvement of architects,” the expert pointed out. “Architecture faces the challenge of once again demonstrating that it can provide practical solutions that improve people’s everyday lives,” he added.

Hyper-regulation and public investment

Another invited speaker was José Bauer, founder of Roman Bauer Arquitectos in Lima, who expressed a similar view: “In a context such as ours, where self-build housing accounts for around 75% of the built environment, we need regulations and standards to achieve safer buildings, reduce environmental impact and improve residents’ quality of life,” he said.

Gabriel Biagoni, dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Design at the Catholic University of Santa Fe, noted that regulations and standards, while necessary, can restrict creative freedom when applied excessively: “Latin American architecture still enjoys a broader margin for action. In many cases, the architect’s relationship with both the project and the construction phase is less constrained and more direct and natural,” he added.

In this context, generating their own commissions is another key difference between the two regions. “In our country it is very common for architects to create their own opportunities by developing initiatives and seeking investors. This is a response to the shortage of commissions,” said Gabriel Biagoni.

Industrialisation is still some way off in Ibero-America

According to Fredy Massad, industrialisation, which is gaining ground in Europe and Asia, is still some way from becoming established in Ibero-America: “Labour remains inexpensive in countries such as Argentina and Paraguay, which means construction is still largely traditional,” Massad explained. José Bauer added that “the only construction industry in Peru is based on cement and is very basic, while industrial capacity beyond that is minimal”. “One could argue that there is considerable design freedom, or that traditional construction methods allow for greater involvement from local communities, but the reality is that the sector faces a very low ceiling in terms of project scalability,” he said.

The conference also featured architects Leandro Alegre from Uruguay, Cássio Sauer from Brazil and José Cubilla from Paraguay. The conference highlighted that, despite the differences between the two regions, the challenges facing architecture are global. “Ensuring that everyone has access to decent housing and that cities become more liveable are challenges shared by all professionals in the sector,” concluded Fredy Massad.