The stark inequalities in contemporary cities are leaving a large, visible mark on their maps, segmenting them and creating chasms of every kind. A person’s life expectancy and possibilities for prospering continue to be decisively shaped by the particular Barcelona neighbourhood they are born in. Architecture and urban planning need to serve, above all, as a counterweight to the class gap.

Permanently threatened by the predatory logic of speculation, the right to decent and accessible housing continues to be one of the most pressing needs facing architecture and urban policies today. But there are many others as well: the right to education, culture, participation and access to a whole host of opportunities that enable each citizen to imagine and choose their path. What can architecture do to produce more egalitarian and accessible spaces?