Curated by Luis Tena Núñez, the exhibition focuses on the ensanches, the urban expansions of 19th and early 20th century Europe that emerged after the demolition of city walls to accommodate population growth and provide new habitability and connectivity.
While the Modern Movement initially criticized 19th-century ensanches, figures like Manuel de Solà-Morales later championed their value as flexible urban fabrics. The exhibition offers a reinterpretation of the ensanche as an urban model rich in form, space, and function, remaining relevant for contemporary city planning.
At the presentation, Denis Itxaso, Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda for the Basque Government, emphasized that the Basque ensanches are "much more than an urban operation," representing "a way of understanding the city as a space for coexistence, equal opportunities, and quality of life."
The exhibition explores ensanches through four complementary dimensions: a theoretical-educational overview of their origins, an analysis of Basque ensanches, historical documentation, and artistic mediation pieces created by students and artists including Susana Blasco, Nagore Legarreta, and Tzesne.
The exhibition will be open until September 27 at the Convento de Santa Teresa before relocating to Tabakalera in the autumn. It includes guided tours, workshops, and the presentation of José Ignacio Linazasoro's book "Permanencias en la arquitectura urbana".
