From the attempts to create a modern city to its globalization: a historiography of the Spanish international exhibitions (1888–2008)

Abstract

This work addresses the urban transformations planned within the development of World Expos in Spain (Barcelona 1888 and 1929, and Seville 1992), along with other international exhibitions (Zaragoza 1908 and 2008, Seville 1929, and Barcelona 2004) with the aim to explore the role of these mega-events as urban experiments reflecting the aspirations and challenges of different époques. The hypothesis is that the Spanish exhibitions can be approached as symptoms rather than the main cause of urban transformations. While the mainstream literature focused on single events in Spain, this research provides a study based on a reflection on the urban transformation tied to the event and the post-event use of the venues and their insertion in the wider urban fabric. Two are the main outcomes. First, this study demonstrates that the 1888-to-1929 expositions fostered the conversion of Barcelona, Seville and Zaragoza into ‘modern’ cities’ by providing monumental and representative spaces converted for everyday use under urban renewal and city expansion. Second, the 1992–2008 expositions attempted to turn these cities into ‘world cities’ centred on urban regeneration processes and mega-projects, with mixed results, ranging from useful insights on urban structuring to wasteful use of resources in large buildings.