Young Talent 2025 Exhibition in Barcelona

EAAE Annual Conference and General Meeting presentation

The Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB) is honoured to host the 2025 EAAE Annual Conference, an event that coincides with the 150th anniversary of the school’s foundation. This milestone provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the pedagogies of  european architecture schools and their role in shaping the architects of tomorrow.

As we navigate the complexities of contemporary architecture, four key themes emerge as guiding principles for a more conscious and responsive practice. Architecture as Synthesis challenges us to reconnect with fundamental architectural principles while adapting to an ever-evolving world. Learning from Archives explores how historical records shape our understanding of architecture, offering fresh interpretations of the discipline’s past, present, and future. No Demolish urges us to reconsider the environmental and social costs of construction, advocating for sustainable, regenerative practices that prioritise reuse over destruction. Finally, Skills and Crafts reaffirms the importance of slow, handson learning, countering the mechanised efficiency of contemporary production with a renewed focus on human-centred design. Together, these perspectives encourage a critical reassessment of how we teach, build, and create in the 21st century.

Although it may seem distant, the Roman architect Vitruvius posed two fundamental questions that continue to resonate today: What is architecture? and What should architects know? These questions remain central to architectural education, underscoring the need for a curriculum that embraces complexity rather than simplifying it. Architecture schools must equip students with a multi-layered education that connects disciplines, scales, and temporalities, fostering a broad and critical perspective. Our graduates will not only become skilled professionals but also active contributors to the ongoing narrative of architecture –a discipline in constant transformation.

Professors and students from architecture schools in Europe are invited to present their teaching experiences in the form of an oral presentation (the summary of which will be published in a book of abstracts) and an extended article (to be published in the form of a book chapter). All contributions will contextualise the first 150 years of teaching at the Barcelona School of Architecture.

As part of this event, we will highlight ETSAB’s rich educational heritage through a curated collection of original documents that exemplify its long-standing tradition. The archive includes materials from the school’s teaching activities, featuring graduation projects dating back to 1875. Additionally, it preserves projects from earlier institutions that trained master builders and surveyors between 1850 and 1872, even before ETSAB’s official foundation.

The Arxiu EtsaB·Càtedra Gaudí serves as a specialised documentary archive, housing a vast array of materials, including photographs, objects, maps, models, and original drawings. Beyond its role as a repository, it functions as a dedicated research unit focused on the study of 19th- and 20th-century architecture, offering valuable insights into the evolution of architectural thought and practice.
By engaging with historical knowledge while embracing contemporary challenges, this conference invites us to rethink the future of architectural education, ensuring that it remains a dynamic and transformative force in shaping the built environment.

Learn more about the conference here.

On 28 August, Anna Sala, EUmies Awards curator, delivered a keynot speach on the EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025 and presented the exhibition.