Presentation and Representation – An Outline for a Critical Interpretation of the “New Generation” of Spanish Architecture

Abstract

The continuous development of the Spanish economy, the large investments, the transformation of the society and the increase in international connections, had drawn public attention to contemporary Spanish architecture by the millennium. Through the medium of the press, the transformation of Spanish architecture is observable, with Spanish periodicals and monographs gaining ground among the international professional issues, headed by the Spanish-English magazine El Croquis. Moreover, we are eyewitnesses to the emergence of the new Spanish architect generation, whose young associates have attracted considerable international interest; their works being built all over the world, enriching their reputation. This paper searches for the answer to the question: how did Spanish architecture reach public awareness from the complete isolation, and what kind of social, cultural and economic factors played a part in this process.