The third edition of the Barcelona Woman and Barcelona Man of the Year distinction, organised by El Periódico, has recognised the careers of Sandra Bestraten, a lecturer at UIC, and Esteve Camps, executive president of the Sagrada Família Foundation. Bestraten has taught at UIC Barcelona School of Architecture since 2010 and, in 2026, took up the position of dean of the Architects' Association of Catalonia (COAC).

El Periódico described Bestraten as "the dean of Catalan architects in the face of the housing emergency". The newspaper highlighted her determination to ensure that architects play an active role in solving the housing crisis and regain their influential place in society.

The panel recognised Sandra Bestraten "for embodying, as dean of Catalan architects, the profession in a year marked by the World Capital of Architecture and the World Congress of Architects, two events that have brought the discipline into public debate at a time when housing is Catalans' foremost concern".

Born in Barcelona, Sandra Bestraten runs her own architectural practice in the Bellvitge neighbourhood. In 2025, she published the book From Zona Franca to La Marina: 100 Years of Social Housing in Barcelona together with lecturer Emili Hormias. The publication examines the architectural and social evolution of the La Marina neighbourhood.

In an interview at UIC, Bestraten emphasised the role that COAC should play in addressing the housing crisis affecting a large part of the country's civil society: "Without housing, there can be no security, health or education. Housing is a pillar that guarantees social cohesion, and that is why stable policies are essential. As an association, we want to serve as a bridge between the public and private sectors," said the dean.

As El Periódico also noted, the architect advocates greater inclusion of female talent in the construction sector and champions the role of the "small architect", distanced from the culture of large egos. Following her appointment as dean, Bestraten stated that "architecture schools are already seeing women account for between 50% and 60% of students".

The third edition of the Barcelona Woman and Barcelona Man of the Year distinction coincides this year with the La Mercè festivities and recognises the winners' contribution to "defining, advancing or improving the project of the city of Barcelona".