Finding Cultural Finding Cultural Values in Architecture Values in Architecture

I always thought about Spanish culture as this loud and lively party vibe However, I realized that Spanish culture is so much more. The first impression might still be loud and unrestricted when it comes to expressing emotions However, I soon realized how unfeigned, authentic, and blunt the people in Barcelona are. They just express themselves and take care of their emotional and psychological needs. In this way, they are straightforward and do not care about westernized moral standards Compared to me as a German, I realized that my values are more of rational nature while the people in Barcelona are very emotion and need-oriented which adds a component of irrationality.

I was particularly amazed by discovering most of these findings by studying the local architecture in Barcelona Hence, I was really surprised by the design of the “Institute de Ciéncia I Tecnologia Ambientals”. The building was introduced to us as an example of a sustainable building with a future perspective. However, next to the sustainable component, it was characterized by the composition of metal pipes, plants, unprocessed wood, and concrete. I personally liked the composition that was created because it reminded me of modern art. However, I realized something important about the culture in Barcelona by looking at this design composition. I realized that people in Barcelona do not care about decorating their ideas or hiding the not-so-beautiful parts In this regard, everything that was a fundamental part of the building construction could be seen, in particular, the holding concrete frame. Furthermore, neither the concrete nor the wood walls were further processed. Hence, there was, for example, no additional layer of material that made it nicer to touch or to look at Relating these observations to culture, it can be said that the people in Barcelona have a rough frame of social norms within which they are acting However, all the basic needs, emotions, and quirks are expressed in their true form within this frame while not being criticized but accepted by society. People cry, scream, laugh and speak loudly in public without needing to think about what the people around them are thinking. And my hypothesis is that the social environment does also not care because it is just accepted and normal to be true to your feelings and to express them.