IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section A
Abstract
Barcelona, a city shaped by centuries of transformation, serves as both a muse and a challenge for urban architects. From its Roman origins in Barcino to the structured modernity of Cerdà’s Eixample plan, the city has continually adapted to its evolving needs and rapidly growing population. Modifications to Cerdà’s vision have turned courtyards into parking lots, doubled built areas, and pushed expansion to the sea and mountains, increasing urban density and straining livability. Today, Barcelona faces growing social tensions as density and rapid population increases threaten its quality of life. Despite its low-scale, walkable urban fabric, this advantage is increasingly limited by rising density. In contrast, Dubai embraces vertical growth but struggles with walkability, resulting in disconnected urban experiences. These two urban morphologies—one vertical and disconnected, the other horizontal and human-centered—present opposite challenges. This research speculates on the potential of hybridizing these two approaches, exploring how a combination of vertical density and walkable, inclusive spaces could address the current challenges faced by both cities. Our research explores the use of small towers as vertical interventions in the historic core of Barcelona to counterbalance urban density. By introducing a progression of spatial experiences ranging from intimate to expansive, these towers mediate between the need for personal space and the demands of urban life. This architectural layering creates a dynamic dialogue between compression and release, light and shadow, and individual and collective experiences. Rooted in Barcelona’s historical and urban context, the research reimagines architecture as a tool for enhancing urban livability. By bridging the density of the city with spaces for introspection, the intervention offers a model for how rapidly growing cities can harmonize human experience with their evolving urban landscapes.
Heidy Thabet is a fourth-year architecture student at the American University of Sharjah, where she has been recognized on the Dean’s List and Chancellor’s List. Her academic work focuses on the emotional and human aspects of architecture, aiming to create spaces that foster connection and meaningful experiences. During her study abroad in Barcelona, Heidy traveled extensively across Spain, visiting modern and historic buildings, deepening her understanding of how architecture shapes culture. Outside of architecture, Heidy values building connections, believing collaboration fosters growth.
Dana Abodahab is a fourth-year architecture student, consistently recognized on the Dean’s List and Chancellor’s List. With a background in the arts, Dana integrates creativity and experimentation into her architectural practice, exploring new materials, forms, and design approaches. Her study abroad in Spain broadened her perspective, influencing her work through diverse architectural histories and cultural contexts. Dana’s projects are driven by a desire to challenge traditional boundaries and push the limits of space and form.
Educated at the University of Virginia and Princeton University Michael Hughes is a Professor of Architecture at the American University of Sharjah. His academic work is focused on small, unremarkable, and often forgotten places adjacent to the lives of underserved people. Located in the boundary between architecture, urbanism, and landscape his projects seek to create experiential delight out of small-scale design opportunities that augment existing infrastructures, provide pragmatic functions, promote play, and exhibit a social and environmental conscience.
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Friday 11th July, 2025