European Conference on Architecture and the Media 2025

On 26 and 27 May 2025, the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion once again became a meeting place for journalists, architects and cultural agents from across Europe. Within the framework of Barcelona Setmanes d’Arquitectura and the EUmies Awards Talks, the fourth edition of Architecture and the Media took place—a conference conceived as a space to learn from and exchange experiences on the dissemination of architecture through the media.

With eighteen speakers, two conversations, three round tables and one workshop, more than 300 attendees—including institutions and cultural organisations, communication professionals, architects and architecture enthusiasts—took part in an event that, across its four editions, has brought together over 60 voices from leading media outlets in more than ten countries.

This edition revolved around a central question: what role do events, festivals and awards play in shaping narratives about the built environment? At a time when Barcelona is preparing to become World Capital of Architecture 2026, there is a clear need to explore new communication territories that help generate content about and around architecture, beyond traditional media.

The programme unfolded over two days and offered a broad reflection on the relationship between architecture, the media and contemporary communication formats. The opening took place on Monday evening with the conversation Architecture in the Newspaper Spotlight, in which Luis Alemany (El Mundo), Clara Blanchar (El País) and Elena Orte (SUMA Arquitectura) discussed how architecture is covered in the general press and the role of the media in shaping architectural narratives.

Tuesday brought together the main activities, combining hands-on formats with open debates. The day began with the workshop Architecture of the Invisible, led by Nicolas Guichard and Béatrice Lartigue (Lab 212), authors of the artistic intervention Ombres Blanches. This theme was further explored in a subsequent round table with Jacopo Biffi (Alte Sfere) and Lara Monacelli (Atelier Remoto).

In the afternoon, the focus shifted to contemporary architectural communication, with a round table on events as content creators featuring Amy Frearson (Dezeen), Giulia Ricci (About:) and Laura Sangrà Herrero (Betevé), followed by another discussion dedicated to awards as a medium of communication, with Albert Nogueras (Núvol), Nick Axel (e-flux architecture) and Pilar Marcos (Disseny Interior).

The programme concluded with a closing conversation centred on the preparations for the UIA World Congress of Architects and Barcelona World Capital of Architecture 2026, with Isabelle Regnier (Le Monde), Graham Keeley (Euronews), Anna Ramos (Barcelona 2026 UNESCO–UIA World Capital of Architecture) and Guim Costa (UIA World Congress of Architects 2026).

For more information, visit architectureandthemedia.com

Organised by Fundació Mies van der Rohe and Labóh, with the support of Creative Europe within the framework of EUmies Awards programme and Setmanes d’Arquitectura. Curated by Miriam Giordano, the event is conceived as a place to meet and exchange experiences on the dissemination of architecture through the media. With the collaboration of LINA European Architecture Platform, USM Modular Furniture and Nihao Films.