Abstract
This Introductory Studio project explores technology, artificial intelligence (AI), systems thinking, computational design and their impact on architecture and urban living. Drawing from complexity theory, ecology, and AI discourse, it frames architecture as an adaptive, self-organizing system rather than a static object. Barcelona serves as the case study—a dense city constrained by geography and facing housing shortages and gentrification. Focusing on the Gràcia district, the project identifies blind walls from uneven redevelopment as spatial opportunities. The proposal envisions a 2070 optional housing system, Decisionless, where AI forces movement and program through movable pods, prioritizing wellness and social interaction.
Technology and AI
Introduction
We stand in late 2025. Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have already moved beyond theoretical concepts and started affecting our everyday lives. We are witnessing a fundamental shift in basic human activities—altering the way we walk through our cities, the way we approach our work and the way we think and process information.
Over the next four and a half decades, these technologies will evolve from influencing our lives to defining our environment. We anticipate an exponential acceleration in how urban infrastructure, housing, and daily life adapt to autonomous systems and algorithmic living.
In computer science, AI is defined as the study and development of intelligent agents (…) In general, the term is applied when a machine mimics the cognitive functions associated with being human.
Matias del Campo & Neil Leach (2022), Machine Hallucinations: Architecture and Artificial Intelligence
Theoretical Analysis
Our research began with a thorough investigation of the scientific literature regarding the emergence of AI throughout time and its effects on the system.
Our research investigates the evolution of AI and its impact on systems, drawing from Fritjof Capra’s “The Web of Life,” which advocates a synthesis of biology, ecology, and systems thinking. Capra introduces the concept of autopoiesis, demonstrating that living systems and human organizations exhibit similar self-organizing patterns, promoting an ecological design paradigm in architecture. Aranda and Lasch’s “Tooling” explores the interplay between natural processes and algorithmic design, emphasizing the role of architects as programmers rather than mere creators, thus fostering a shift towards parametricism and digital fabrication. Barker and Dong’s research on a prototype CAD tool for intelligent spaces introduces hybrid representation languages and semantic layers, enhancing the dynamism of architectural models and laying groundwork for AI-driven Building Information Behavior (BIB).
“Spiraling produces a shape unlike any other because it is seldom exprerienced as geometry, but rather as energy.”
-Aranda, Benjamin & Lasch, Chris. (2005), Tooling, Pamphlet Architecture No. 27.
In “The Singularity Is Near,” Kurzweil predicts that technology will rapidly advance, leading to a convergence between biology and technology when AI surpasses human intelligence, referred to as the technological singularity. He introduces concepts such as digital immortality and self-programming materials, suggesting design will evolve as a co-evolutionary process involving multiple intelligences. Terzidis contrasts algorithmic design, which establishes its own rules, with parametric design, which adjusts variables within a set framework. He argues that algorithms represent a new form of architectural expression, where code replaces traditional drawing media, promoting a blend of creativity and logic, thus establishing computational design as a distinct field.
Žižek, in “Examined Life,” argues for an ecological attitude that embraces waste and imperfection, criticizing green capitalism for neglecting the ideological structures behind sustainability. He suggests architecture should reflect coexistence with entropy, transforming urban spaces into sites that reveal systemic truths. Pauli contrasts “green” and “blue” economies, advocating for a model that mimics natural ecosystems, promoting positive environmental interactions. His work also imagines architecture as adaptive, integrating local resources. Tegmark’s “Life 3.0” explores AI’s dual potential, advocating for ethical governance alongside technological progress. Morton critiques the notion of an external “Nature,” introducing the idea of hyperobjects, which challenges conventional ecological perceptions. He calls for an aesthetic that accepts ambiguity and interdependence in design, emphasizing that all architectural endeavors contribute to a constructed ecology.
Alkhansari analyzes architectural flexibility through a holistic lens, proposing that it encompasses spatial, technological, and informational adaptability rather than being confined to physical mobility. He views flexibility as an emergent property of complex systems, suggesting future buildings will function as “adaptive platforms.” Wooldridge charts AI’s evolution from symbolic to deep learning, emphasizing the distinction between weak and strong AI. He advocates for algorithmic literacy among designers, highlighting the shift from task automation to generative reasoning. Cañigueral addresses the changing nature of work in the digital age, arguing that traditional work structures are replaced by a network society requiring adaptable architecture like coworking spaces. He calls for urban policies supporting flexibility and diversity in employment.
Leach’s recent work explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on architectural practice, suggesting that while AI will not replace architects, it will significantly alter their roles towards curating generative processes. He differentiates between weak and strong AI, addressing ethical issues such as authorship and algorithmic bias. Leach posits that AI fosters a new design paradigm that shares creative responsibility between humans and machines. He reviews modern tools like GANs and deep neural networks for aesthetic exploration and predicts a future architecture characterized by collaboration, adaptability, and co-intelligence, where designs evolve through experiential learning.
Levels of Automation
The yardstick for automation is a framework that examines the gradual replacement of human capabilities by machines, particularly in architectural research. Initially proposed by Amber and Amber in 1962 and updated by Black, it categorizes automation into ten levels. Level A(0) features complete manual operation with no human attributes replaced. Level A(1) sees machines replace human muscular energy, while Level A(2) marks automation starting to replace human dexterity. Level A(3) removes human diligence through machines that repeat tasks without fatigue. Level A(4) introduces feedback, allowing machines to replace human judgment. Level A(5) extends this to human evaluation and adaptive analysis through computer-controlled systems. Level A(6) offers machines some learning ability via self-programming. Level A(7) replaces human reasoning with machines demonstrating inductive reasoning. Level A(8) involves machines capable of original design, while Level A(9) represents speculative machine dominance. This conceptual model aids in analyzing technological evolution affecting architectural practice, connecting automation levels to specific human attributes and advancing our understanding of automated systems’ capabilities and limitations.
“Each order of automation is tied to the human attribute that is being replaced by either mechanizing or automating it by the machine.”
-Amber and Amber, (1962), Yardstick for automation.
Timeline Slide Research Diagram
Timeline Slide Research Diagram
Modular robots made of voxels- tiny units that transmit power, data and force- capable of autonomously connecting to build structures or even replicate themselves. No wires, just structure.
Figura is an artificial intelligence robotics company that developed a robot to work essentially in dangerous tasks. The robot is currently able to understand natural language, reason, and move fluidly.
Barcelona’s autonomous bus is a self-driving vehicle designed for urban transport wich can navigate, detect obstacles, and interact with traffic systems, offering safe and efficient mobility in real-world conditions.
Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical systems that use real-time data to simulate, monitor, and optimize performance. They enable predictive analysis and informed decision-making across various industries.
CREATIVE
The tools are capable of finding new ways to work to our benefit and follow our decisions.
CONTROL
The tools decide how to function, even if it’s not the best for us as humans.
The city of Barcelona
Introduction
Barcelona is one of the most desired cities in the world in which to live. As the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia and the second-largest city in Spain, it has long attracted people seeking opportunity, creativity, and a high quality of life.
According to the Catalonia Statistics Institute (IDESCAT), Barcelona reached a population of 1,686,208 inhabitants in 2024, one of the highest figures in its modern history. This sustained demographic growth raises an essential question: How did Barcelona evolve into such a dense and globally attractive urban center?
Historically shaped by architectural innovation and urban transformation, Barcelona has continually adapted to social and economic change.
However, the city faces strong natural constraints: the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Serra de Collserola mountains to the north, the Besòs River to the east, and the Llobregat River to the west. These geographical boundaries limit further territorial expansion and force the city to grow within a confined space. As a result, every square meter counts, and each new resident, building, and street contributes to Barcelona’s ever-changing social and physical landscape.
Yet, the question remains: How long can the city continue to grow, adapt, and welcome the world while holding fast to its unmistakable identity?
“Barcelona’s population has surpassed 1.73 million as of January 1, 2025. The city added nearly 30,000 new residents over the past year, reaching its highest population total since 1985.”
-CatalanNews, (2025), Barcelona reaches 1.73m residents, highest figure in 40 years.
Demographics and Growth
Barcelona’s population dynamics over the past century reflect both global trends and local transformations. At the beginning of the 20th century, the city had just over 500,000 inhabitants; by 1979, it peaked at nearly 1.9 million before declining in the late 20th century as people moved to surrounding suburbs.
After bottoming out around 2000 with roughly 1.5 million residents, the population began to rise again, driven largely by internal and international migration. As of 2024, Barcelona’s population stood at approximately 1,686,000, with more recent data from January 2025 reporting around 1.73 million residents—the highest level in four decades (Catalan News).
Despite this growth, Barcelona covers just 101 square kilometers, giving it one of the densest populations in Europe. Every street and square is alive with movement, as people, vehicles, and daily life intertwine in a city where space is at a premium. Population density in Barcelona is exceptionally high, consistently ranking among Europe’s densest major cities (Wikipedia).
The city’s demographic composition has evolved dramatically over the last three decades. One in four citizens today holds foreign nationality, and over a third were born outside Spain, representing more than 180 nationalities (El País). This influx of newcomers has rejuvenated the population: the average foreign resident is 35 years old, contrasting with the native population, whose average age exceeds 47. The growing diversity and high level of education among residents have reshaped the city into a dynamic, culturally rich urban mosaic.
Housing reflects both the city’s density and its population growth. Nearly a third of households are single-person homes, and only a little over a thousand new dwellings were built in 2024, most of them public housing (Barcelona.cat).
Apartments are often small, and residential space is precious, pushing some residents to surrounding towns while rents continue to climb. Buildings rise densely across the city, from historic neighborhoods such as Ciutat Vella to the modern blocks of l’Eixample, reflecting centuries of adaptation to limited space.
Despite these pressures, Barcelona continues to age gracefully. The city boasts a record 1,007 centenarians, mostly women, even as births remain historically low. Its streets remain vibrant, filled with a mixture of cars, motorcycles, tourists, and locals, all sharing the compact urban fabric (Barcelona.cat).
“According to data from the INE Padrón statistics, most of the foreign residents in Barcelona come from the US, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.”
Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE). (2024).
“The average age stands at 44.4 years old, with more women than men in the city.”
Barcelona.Cat (2025), Barcelona’s population stabilises at 1.7 million people
“If we compare the more than 40,000 new inhabitants who arrived in 2024 with just a few more of 1 thousand new homes that began construction that same year, it’s easy to see that this growth is not enough.”
Historical map during the years
At first, our concept started by focusing on the most important part and that is the area near Cerdà blocks. Researching the area of Barcelona and studying it´s map, we separated in historic timelines starting from late 19th century, when the population of began to increase rapidly, due to the implementation of Cerdà Plan, approved in 1859 and the construction of the first houses, single family mansions and continuing up to the 21st century.
Starting from 1890, Barcelona was one of the most important cities in Spain, due to the industrial sector, especially in manufacturing and textiles, which relied heavily on marine trade. The port was synchronized after industrial expansion in the 19th century.
New Cerdà blocks were constructed in 1903 to connect the old city to new areas, and the Eixample district began to grow.
In 1936 the Spanish war begins and the port was a strategic military and supply site. This conflict that ended in 1939 halted economic growth and led to heavy damage to infrastructure, including parts of the harbor, but yet it didn’t affect Eixample, the area we are investigating.
In 1956, the pattern of Cerda blocks reappears in some areas, expanded the area of Eixample in the area that we now called Sagrada Familia and new informal housing techniques started to appear in order to resident people that came to live to Barcelona.
In 1976, the post-franco era the city began to reconnect with its coastline, leading to future urban and post renewal projects.
In 1992, it’s one of the most important years in Barcelona due to the Olympics. The whole city transformed rapidly in order to host millions of people coming all over the world. The old industrial port area was redeveloped into Port Olímpic, beaches were restored, and the Port Vell (Old Port) became a leisure and tourism hub.
In 2004, the port of Barcelona became one of the Mediterranean’s busiest container ports. Surge in cruise tourism; new logistics zones developed in Zona Franca.
In 2010, due to the global crisis, it remained a global city, but also one of Europe’s busiest cruise ports.
Problematic Analysis
Barcelona’s success as a vibrant international city has led to severe urban tensions, most notably around housing affordability and gentrification. Housing is now the top concern for residents—surpassing safety and tourism in municipal surveys—as the gap between supply and demand continues to widen (Catalan News). Despite periodic increases in construction, the city has consistently failed to deliver enough new homes. Catalonia faces an estimated annual shortfall of around 10,000 housing units, with Barcelona particularly constrained by restrictive planning frameworks, limited land availability, and high land costs (El País).
Gentrification has significantly reshaped many central neighborhoods. Long-term residents—often lower-income households—have been displaced as investment, tourism, and speculative development drive up rents and property values. Areas such as Sant Pere, Santa Caterina, La Ribera, El Raval, and Barceloneta have become spots where redevelopment has altered the social and economic fabric of daily life (Barcelona.cat). The problem is intensified by large-scale speculative luxury projects—more than 600 reported in 2024—and by the city’s limited supply of social housing, which represents less than 2% of total housing stock, far below European averages (ARA.cat).
“Barcelona’s global success has produced a deep housing crisis, as constrained supply, speculative development, and tourism-driven demand displace long-term residents, deepen inequality, and threaten the city’s social diversity unless planning and housing policy are fundamentally rethought”
-Catalan News; El País; Barcelona.cat; ARA.cat.
These housing pressures intersect with broader urban and social challenges. Rising rents, near-zero vacancy rates, and a shrinking supply of affordable homes have pushed many residents to relocate to surrounding metropolitan municipalities in search of more attainable housing. At the same time, inner-city neighborhoods increasingly cater to wealthier newcomers or short-term tourist accommodation, further eroding residential stability.
Barcelona now stands at a critical crossroads. Its density, economic vitality, and global appeal offer significant opportunities, but they also intensify structural inequalities. Housing costs continue to outpace incomes, while climate stress, rising energy prices, and energy poverty deepen social vulnerability. Without faster planning approvals, stronger regulation of speculative activity, expanded public and social housing, and more innovative approaches to density and land use, the city risks a long-term loss of affordability and social diversity. Leveraging data-driven planning tools and redefining how density is delivered will be essential to ensuring resilient, inclusive urban living for Barcelona’s future.
The area of Gracia
Historical maps of Barcelona show that Gràcia existed as an independent settlement before Ildefons Cerdà’s Eixample plan in the mid-19th century. Originally a small village (vila) outside the city boundaries, Gràcia had narrow, irregular streets and small public squares, typical of pre-industrial Catalan villages.
The historical maps of Barcelona reveal that Gràcia existed before the Cerdà blocks—a small village (Vila) beyond the city’s boundaries, whose traces remain visible today.
Unlike the Eixample, Gràcia kept its irregular street network, creating a unique urban fabric where village structures coexist within a large city. This made it a desirable area for new residents, while locals have preserved the neighborhood’s identity, often making it difficult for newcomers to fully integrate.
Today, Gràcia has about 50,670 residents and covers 0.512 square miles. Its high density reflects sustained urban vitality, while surrounding sectors like El Farro show how peripheral areas gradually integrated into the city grid while keeping local character. Gràcia remains a key case study in urban planning, showing how historic settlements can adapt within expanding cities while balancing heritage and modern needs.
The Blind Walls of Gracia
Our interest in investigating the Gràcia neighborhood began with our existing data, as it is one of the oldest areas near the city of Barcelona. In contrast to the structured Eixample district, separated by the major Diagonal road, Gràcia offers a more irregular and organic urban fabric. Exploring the area firsthand, we became aware of a strikingly unpleasant element: the blind walls.
Due to the high demand for housing in Gràcia, some older buildings have been demolished to make way for new residential developments. This has created abrupt height differences between structures, resulting in blank walls that cannot be addressed without demolishing neighboring buildings as well.
We saw this as an opportunity to develop our project. Instead of following the traditional vertical approach, our proposal seeks to expand along the axis of these blind walls, transforming them from obstacles into design opportunities.
