Inhabiting the window. The square as a room in Barcelona

Abstract

The small neighborhood squares of Barcelona play a crucial role in shaping the city's urban habitat. Their modest scale and spatial clarity allow them to be seen as open-air rooms where countless daily routines unfold. Using drawing as an analytical tool, this article focuses on the facades surrounding these squares to illustrate the importance of the window beyond its functional or morphological aspects. The text shows that this element determines formal and meaningful aspects that resonate with their inhabitants. By inhabiting the window, the square draws nourishment from its surrounding houses, blurring the boundaries between public and private. Through graphic representation, the value of windows and balconies is recognized, building a simple and modest stage where the shared domesticity of the square's interior contributes to Barcelona's social and formal identity.