UC Davis Study Abroad, Summer Abroad Spain, Housing and Urbanism in Barcelona Program, Header Image, Overview Page

Summer Abroad Spain - Instructor

Housing and Urbanism in Barcelona

David de la Peña

Human Ecology
Instructor Photo

Dr. David de la Peña is an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Design in the department of Human Ecology at U.C. Davis. He is a licensed architect with graduate degrees from U.C. Berkeley and U.T. Austin. His research focuses on democratic design, sustainable cities, and social housing, and he has been recently engaged in international collaborations in Spain, Mexico, and Chile. Professor de la Peña lived in Barcelona as a Fulbright researcher, where he collaborated with designers on innovative approaches to community engagement. He is pleased to share his expertise and contacts, as well as his favorite places, with students, in this long-running summer course.

A Message to Students and Parents

I spent my junior year of college in Germany after wandering into the study abroad office on a whim. I’m glad I did because it changed my life; living in a dense ecologically-minded city sparked my interest in architecture and cities, and it made me rethink the cultural norms that I knew in the U.S. Since then, my curiosity about other cultures and places has remained. Several years ago, I received a Fulbright to go to Barcelona, and I spent a year there studying young creative architects and activists. I met brilliant people and made key contacts who now contribute their expertise to this study abroad program. Along the way, I also fell in love with this vibrant city.

Beyond its enchanting ramblas, beaches, plazas, cafes, and architecture, Barcelona offers a rich public culture shaped by a desire for community association. You can read about places like this in books, but it is no substitute for first-hand experience. The city you will learn about is one that is different—and much richer—than the city that tourists find. In our class, you will get an insider’s view of the city’s neighborhoods and you will hear firsthand from prominent architects, planners and activists who are shaping its landscapes. Few cities have as much to teach us as Barcelona, and I hope you will join me for an exciting four weeks that will change the way you think about housing, cities, and yourself."