The (About) Gaudí conference, hosted by COAC, provided a forum for debating the future of architecture, which, according to lecturer Josep Miàs, lies in “looking towards China”. In an interview, Miàs highlighted the country’s industrialised construction sector, which accounts for 30% of new builds. “Prefabrication in China bears no comparison to that here,” Miàs stated. “They are impressive assembly lines operating with interconnected modules.” 

Speaking at the event, Liu Yulong, president and chief architect of Tsinghua University (THAD), stated, “We need to rethink the concept of sustainable development and move towards a new era that includes building refurbishment and micro-parks, as is currently the case in Beijing.” He went on to say, “Forty years ago, we were a poor country with nothing; construction expanded very rapidly. Now we need an architecture that pays attention to detail. It is time to return to our own identity.”

The architect and academic advocated “moving away from mass construction”. “In China, we are increasingly seeing abandoned office buildings, particularly since the pandemic. Commercial areas are also becoming vacant, as people are increasingly shopping online. The phase of rapid construction in China has come to an end,” he explained.

Architecture and robotics

Miàs emphasised the importance of closely observing China’s strategy in order to understand new business models: “30% of architecture students in China are moving into robotics; they have understood that architecture alone will not solve the housing problem – biology, energy and telecommunications will do so,” the architect explained. “Once we understand that architecture is linked not only to composition and history, but also to technology, we will know where we need to look,” he argued.

Josep Miàs also noted that “in China, the use of AI is not part of the public debate”. “It is accepted naturally as just another tool, a practical resource,” he maintained. “AI seeks aggregation; it can help us return to radicality and originality. It is essentially a return to the origins,” he reflected.

Wang Jian, director general and chief architect at Zhejiang University, also took part, explaining how Gaudí influences architecture students and noting that he himself studied Gaudí through textbooks in the 1990s. Jian presented examples of Chinese parks and buildings inspired by nature in the same way as Gaudí’s work.

Greener public spaces

Liu Yulong shared the “pocket parks” or micro-park initiative that is spreading across China. These are small green spaces for local residents that foster positive change in cities, including, among other benefits, a more vibrant night-time environment. According to Miàs, this represents a new model of urban regeneration, featuring “surgical” architectural approaches and demonstrating “bidirectional” learning between Europe and China.

In terms of sustainability, Liu Yulong stated that Chinese policy has made significant progress in the construction sector over the past twenty years. “Building insulation is governed by national regulations for all new developments, creating shade and promoting renewable energy. There is still much to be done, but we are on the right path,” he concluded.

Balancing technology and culture

Preserving a country’s architectural and cultural heritage can, at times, become an obstacle to implementing innovative projects that do not align with local traditions. In this regard, Miàs emphasised the concept of legacy: “We cannot preserve everything; we must safeguard what is essential, while also being selective. In China, this forms part of the public debate. Perhaps 5% or 10% is preserved, while the rest is demolished,” he argued. “There appears to be a conscious denial about what needs to be done and where the reference points lie,” he added.

Beijing, world capital of architecture in 2029

Following the conclusion of the World Architecture Congress in Barcelona, Beijing will now take over as host for 2029. “The Chinese capital is already preparing to lead the event in three years’ time, and we still have a long way to go to match its level of innovation,” stated Josep Miàs. 

Sandra Bestraten, dean of COAC and lecturer at the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture, highlighted that “Barcelona aims to promote the continuity of the Congress and maintain its relationship with China in order to continue sharing knowledge”, she concluded.