I have authored the introductory essay of the book Housing in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, edited by Marta Poch, which features a selection of social housing projects built by public agency IMPSOL over the last decade. The essay, titled “Ambiguous Spaces,” focuses on the highly innovative design of the dwelling units in these projects, identifying five architectural qualities that radically distinguish them from more typical urban housing: open-plan kitchens, generic rooms, interconnecting rooms, intermediate climatic spaces, and intermediate social spaces. These features allow dwellings to be used in more diverse ways by inhabitants while lessening gender inequality and lowering utility bills. The book is available in Spanish, Catalan, and English language versions.
Rafael Gómez-Moriana 