Realtime Urbanism

Realtime Urbanism Lab in collaboration with Austin McInnis and Júlia Nueno. Commissioned for the Models: Barcelona Architecture Festival, Spring 2022.

Set against the backdrop of Barcelona’s severe housing crisis of 2022, this site-specific augmented reality installation unveils the hidden financial systems that have emerged over the past decade. Highlighting ownership structures that prioritize value and profit over utility and accessibility to proper housing, the virtual open house provides a deep dive into the city’s intricate real estate landscape. A decade ago, in 2012, the global economy faltered, leading Spain’s real estate bubble to burst. Thousands of families found themselves unable to afford their mortgages. In response, banks offloaded these “risky assets” by selling them in bulk to international investment funds. Barcelona’s housing challenges were further exacerbated by a surge in tourism demand, lax rental contract regulations, and a lack of public housing. This environment fostered a rent bubble, leading to the often-unnoticed evictions of many long-standing residents.

The installation offers an incisive examination of the property and its perceived value in the vicinity. Using augmented reality, the public can see firsthand the ramifications of mega tourism, soaring rents, evictions, and vacant investment properties, juxtaposed against the homes of the city’s inhabitants.