The City as a Quarry: Housing Transformation

The City as a Quarry: Housing Transformation

Wednesday 4 November 2026 | 09:00–13:30 CET (UTC+1)

Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to the European Union

Rue de la Loi 227, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

Free admission | English, no interpretation

Registration: https://territori.gencat.cat/ca/01_departament/formularis/jornada-city-quarry-housing-transformation/index.html

Press enquiries: Gemma Pascual | [email protected]

The City as a Quarry: Housing Transformation is a free conference exploring how renovation, reuse, changes of use and building extensions can help increase the housing supply. Organised by the Government of Catalonia and curated by Marta Peris and José Toral of Peris+Toral Arquitectes, it brings together European Commission representatives, public officials and European architects. The programme connects public policy and financing with built examples, including the transformation of Brussels’ Brunfaut Tower, presented by Jaime Eizaguirre of Atelier 229. The conference forms part of the series Conferences on Contemporary Catalan Architecture. Social housing, within World Capital of Architecture Barcelona 2026.

09:00–09:10 | Institutional welcome

09:10–10:30 | Policies for transforming housing: scale, financing and productive transition | Elena Montani (European Commission, Joint Research Centre / New European Bauhaus); Tatiana Márquez Uriarte (European Commission, Housing Task Force); Josep Casas i Miralles (Government of Catalonia).

10:30–11:00 | Coffee break

11:00–12:30 | Architectural transformation: renovation, reuse and extension of built heritage | Xavier Bustos Serrat (Cities Connection Project); Frédéric Druot; Jaime Eizaguirre (Atelier 229, Brussels).

12:30–13:00 | Closing and conclusions

13:00–13:30 | Lunch

José Toral moderates both round tables.

Brunfaut Tower | A229 – Dethier Architecture | Photograph: François Lichtlé.