The architects at the end of the Franco period, between the professional crisis and the political-social commitment

Abstract

From the end of the 1960s, architects appear as the spearhead of urban criticism in Spain. They offer an emblematic example of the role in the Spanish transition of «New professionals» (architects, doctors, lawyers, etc.) who shared youth, politicization and commitment for the general interest. This commitment was partly explained by generational and political causes, but these explanations cannot be examined independently of their own professional problems. In this context, the economic and social transformations of “Desarrollismo”, and the real estate boom that accompanies it, will bring prosperity to the professional group, given the peak of commissions that it means. However, it will also exacerbate professional problems that contribute to the loss of prestige of the profession. Given this, several professional sectors, especially the younger ones who suffer more from these problems and reject it with greater force, will impose the need to renew the social mission of the profession putting it at the service of society. This article aims to demonstrate, through the example of the architects, the interest of a long-term study -from the postwar period- of certain groups better understand the causes of the political and social opposition to the dictatorship.