The Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) is a Knowledge Community of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). We are a large and active group of over 10,000 architects and allied professionals concerned with the quality and design of all types of educational, cultural, and recreational facilities that promote lifelong learning in safe, welcoming and equitable environments. The CAE’s mission is to foster innovative and collaborative design of educational facilities and to heighten public awareness on the importance of learning environments.
Setting the context for the conference, this presentation will provide an overview of Catalan history, culture, architecture, and urban planning, pointing out the main characteristics. The re-emergence of Catalonia after the Franco era and the accompanying emphasis on education will be explained. The Catalan passion for art and design and its impact on architecture for education will be described. The emergence of Barcelona as an economic, cultural, and design center for southwestern Europe will be examined.