Methodology

A Real-Life Case Study

The core of our pedagogical approach is the Transversal Laboratory, a year-long immersion where students move beyond the university walls to engage with a Real-Life Case Study in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. Unlike traditional academic exercises, this case study is articulated through formal cooperation agreements with public institutions, ensuring that every analysis and proposal responds to specific and actual needs of the territory.

Work with local agents

A vital component of this learning process is the intensive Field Work and constant interaction with local agents. We believe that sustainable urban regeneration cannot be designed from a desk; therefore, our students conduct periodic site visits to explore public spaces, neighborhood associations, and local infrastructures. By connecting directly with community networks and the administrative bodies involved in official urban planning, students gain a first-hand understanding of the social perception and political mechanisms that define the neighborhood. This direct contact with stakeholders—from neighbors to government officials—allows for the co-creation of socially acceptable models that are realistically connected to the actual needs of the place.