The Royal Gold Medal 1999: the City of Barcelona: Fid-Bau Portal

The Royal Gold Medal 1999: the City of Barcelona

The Royal Institute of British Architects since 1848 has advised the Monarch on the award of the Royal Gold Medal to individuals for distinguished services to architecture. In 1999 precedent was broken to award the Royal Gold Medal to the City of Barcelona. The Journal of Architecture is celebrating this award by publishing the 'Jury Citation' and 'Notes accompanying the Jury's Citation', followed by the texts of three of the speeches which preceded and followed the presentation: 'Award of the Royal Gold Medal to Barcelona' by Robert Maxwell; 'Architecture and City in an Open World' by Pasqual Maragall i Mira (Mayor in 1982, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995 and 1997); and 'Ten points on an Urbanistic Methodology' by Oriol Bohigas (who, as architect, served Barcelona City Council as Delegate for Urban Affairs 1979-1983, Co-ordinator for Urban Affairs 1983-4, Urbanism Special Advisor 1984-1991 and elected Councillor for Culture 1991-4). The example of Barcelona as revealed through these texts provides insights, and evidence of a collective inspiration, to be emulated wherever urban regeneration forms part of a political and social agenda shared by city authorities, business interests, designers and citizens.