Profile   /   Teaching   /   Investigation   /   Career path   /   Awards and recognitions   /   Conferences   /   Publications

xavi matilla

Xavi Matilla

Architect-Urbanist

Profile

Xavier Matilla’s career, both academic and professional, is marked by a consistent interest in cities and in making them better places to live, with a particular focus on urban regeneration and the implementation of a new urban model based on proximity and naturalization.

He has developed his professional career as a consultant in urban and territorial planning and strategic planning for more than 20 years, holding prestigious positions and leading a wide range of plans and projects at different urban and territorial scales:

  • Strategic and Urban Planning Consultant and Advisor (June 2023 – Present)
  • Chief Architect of the City of Barcelona (2019–2023). During this period, he promoted numerous urban transformations. Among them, the “Superblock Barcelona” project stands out — internationally recognized as an effective strategy to transform city streets into spaces with higher environmental quality and stronger social interaction and local economic activity. Also notable are the “Protecting Schools” program, which has improved the surroundings of over 200 schools; the transformation of public spaces such as Avinguda Meridiana, Parc de les Glòries, and Via Laietana; and the Montjuïc Fairgrounds Transformation Plan.
  • Co-founder and Projects Director at “Territoris XLM” (2013-2017). An office dedicated to strategic planning, urban projects, and public space design. In 2016, they received the runner-up prize at the Catalunya Urbanism Awards.
  • Project Coordinator at “Jornet-Llop-Pastor Arquitectes” (2000–2013). Key projects include the POUM of Montmeló (awarded the Urbanism Prize at the XI Spanish Architecture Biennial 2011) and the Urban Regeneration Project for the Sant Jaume Neighborhood in Tortosa (winner of the Catalunya Urbanism Award 2012).
  • Adjunt Professor at the Department of Urbanism, Landscape, and Territory (DUPT) at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) (since 2010).
  • Professor at the Metropolis Master’s Program at the Institut Metròpoli de Barcelona (IMB-UAB) (since 2016).
  • Author of several publications on urban planning and public space design.
  • Member of the Academic Council of the Institut Metròpoli.(Since 2016)
  • He served as Secretary of the Association of Urban Architects of Catalonia (AAUC) from 2010 to 2015.
  • City Councillor in the City Council of Terrassa during the 2015–2019 term.

Professional career

Xavier Matilla has developed his professional career as an architect and urban planner for more than 20 years in several prestigious architecture and urbanism firms. Throughout this time, he has demonstrated remarkable design skills and strong leadership in managing and coordinating team work, earning several awards and recognitions.

  • Architect–Urbanist, Strategic and Urban Planning Consultant (June 2023 – Present). He currently works as a consultant specializing in strategic and urban planning, focusing on urban and territorial regeneration.

  • Chief Architect of the City of Barcelona (October 2019 – June 2023).
    During this period, he led numerous urban transformation projects. Among them, the “Superblock Barcelona” project stands out, internationally recognized as an effective strategy to transform city streets into spaces with higher environmental quality, stronger social interaction, and more local economic activity. Other notable initiatives include the “Protecting Schools” program, which improved the surroundings of more than 200 schools; major public space transformations such as Avinguda Meridiana, Parc de les Glòries, and Via Laietana; and the Montjuïc Fairgrounds Transformation Plan.

  • Co-founder and Projects Director at “Territoris XLM” (2013-2017). A multidisciplinary office aimed at providing design-based responses to the challenges of contemporary cities and territories, developing multiple projects and receiving various awards, including the POUM of Sant Jaume de Llierca, which earned the Accésit Catalunya Urbanism Award in 2016..

  • Coordinador de projectes a “Jornet-Llop-Pastor arquitectes” entre 2000 i 2013. Destaquen els projectes «POUM de Montmeló» (guardonat amb el Premio Urbanismo de la XI Bienal de Arquitectura Española 2011) i el «Projecte de Regeneració Urbana del Barri de Sant Jaume a Tortosa» (guanyador del Premi Catalunya Urbanisme 2012).

  • Collaborator at “BAMMP Arquitectes” (1999–2000).
    He began his professional practice in 1999 at this renowned firm based in Terrassa, where he contributed to architectural, urban planning, and public space projects.

PLANS AND PROJECTS

Architect–Urbanist, Strategic and Urban Planning Consultant (June 2023 – Present).

  • In progress
    Urban Master Plan for the l’Agulla Area
    Directorate General for Territorial, Urban and Architectural Planning – Department of Territory, Government of Catalonia
    (In collaboration with TerritorisXLM)

  • In progress
    Specific Modification of the Metropolitan General Plan (PGM) “Barri Botigues Oest”
    Castelldefels City Council
    (In collaboration with TerritorisXLM)

  • 2025
    Finalist, competition     “Alternatives for the Development of the Besòs Central Area – Metropolitan Centrality of Barcelona, Badalona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Sant Adrià de Besòs”
    Consorci del Besòs.
    (In collaboration with BCQ Arquitectura and TerritorisXLM)
  • 2024-2025
    Strategy and Methodology for the Improvement of School Environments in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona
    Metropolitan Strategic Plan (PEMB)
    (In collaboration with TerritorisXLM)
  • Awarded
    Urban Master Plan for Economic Activity in Logis Empordà
    Catalan Land Institute (INCASÒL)
    (In collaboration with TerritorisXLM)

Chief Architect – Ayuntamiento de Barcelona (2019-2023)

Direction and supervision of the following projects:

Superilla Barcelona

  • 2020 – Presentation of Superilla Barcelona 2030 Vision
  • 2021 – Drafting of the New Green Axis Model
  • 2023 – Design and implementation of four Green Axis projects in the Eixample district (Consell de Cent, Rocafort, Borrell, and Girona streets)
  • 2023 – Design and implementation of four new public squares in the Eixample
  • 2023 – Design of the Superilla Sant Gervasi projects
    Info: Superilla Barcelona

Protecting Schools

Avenida Meridiana Transformation

  • 2023 – Implementation of the Mallorca–Felip II section
    Info: Nova Meridiana

Via Laietana Transformation

  • 2023 – Implementation of the section between Pl. Urquinaona and Antoni Maura
    Info: Nova Via Laietana

Pi i Margall Transformation

Planning Project for the Transformation of the Montjuïc Fairgrounds

Sants Station

Ciutadella Park

Playable City

  • 2022 – Design competition for 9+1 accessible areas. Projects completed

Open Streets

  • 2020–2023 – Weekend traffic closures on Gran de Gràcia Street and Creu Coberta Street in Sants

TerritorisXLM (2013-2016)

Direction and supervision of the following projects:

Urban and Territorial Planning

  • 2015 – Municipal Urban Development Plan of Sant Jaume de Llierca (Preliminary Draft, April 2015)

    Sant Jaume de Llierca City Council
    Catalunya Urbanism Award 2016, Honorable Mention

  • 2014 – Specific Modification of the Metropolitan General Plan (PGM) in the area of the Rambla de Prat extension in Vila de Gràcia (Initial Approval, March 2014)

    Barcelona City Council, Gràcia District

Strategic Planning

  • Study of the Perimeter of the Historic Center of Vilafranca del Penedès, 2015
    Barcelona Provincial Council & Vilafranca del Penedès City Council

  • Strategic Urban Plan for Les Franqueses del Vallès, 2015
    In collaboration with Vora Arquitectura
    Les Franqueses del Vallès City Council

  • Strategic Urban Plans for the Intercommunal Zone, Santiago de Chile, 2014
    In collaboration with VaAr Arquitectos and Badia Arquitectes
    SEREMI-MINVU (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development of Chile) and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)

  • Facilities Master Plan of Sant Pol de Mar, 2014
    Facilities and Public Space Service, Barcelona Provincial Council & Sant Pol de Mar City Council

Public Space and Landscape

  • Public Space Master Plan of Òdena, 2016
    Facilities and Public Space Service, Barcelona Provincial Council

  • Programming Study and Intervention Project for the Maritime Cemetery of l’Escala, 2015
    l’Escala City Council

  • Construction Project for the Urban Development of the BV-5156 and BV-5003 Urban Crossings and Surrounding Streets in Montmeló, 2015
    In collaboration with Jornet-Llop-Pastor Arquitectes and Enginyers Associats. Plan Office Coordinator

  • Intervention Project on the Pearson and Primer de Maig Plots in the City of Rubí, within the “Buits Plens” Program, 2014
    In collaboration with Sòcol and Vancells Arquitectura
    Proursa, Municipal Company of Rubí

Projects with Jornet-Llop-Pastor Arquitectes (2000–2013)

Coordinator of the following projects:

Urban and Territorial Planning

  • Municipal Urbanistic Plan of Tortosa amendment in the Sant Jaume Neighborhood. Final approval, December 2011.
    Catalan Land Institute (Institut Català del Sòl) and Tortosa City Council.
    Catalunya Urbanism Award 2012.

  • Municipal Urbanistic Plan of Sant Andreu de la Barca. Preliminary Draft, December 2011.
    Barcelona Metropolitan Area and Sant Andreu de la Barca City Council.

  • Municipal Urbanistic Plan of Montmeló. Final approval, December 2011. Montmeló City Council.
    Urban Planning Award, XI Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism 2011.

  • Urbanistic Master Plan for the Strategic Residential Areas of Vallès Occidental. Final approval, March 13, 2009.
    Department of Territorial Policy and Public Works, Government of Catalonia.

  • Specific Modification of the General Plan of Lleida in the Torreblanca–Quatre Pilans Area. Preliminary Draft, October 2008.
    Catalan Land Institute and Lleida City Council.

  • Special Urban Improvement Plan for the Northern Subsector of the Central Sector, Parets del Vallès. Final approval, 2012.
    Clapé Group.

  • Special Plan for the Permanent Barcelona–Catalunya Speed Circuit. Preliminary document, 2011.
    Barcelona–Catalunya Speed Circuit Consortium.

  • Partial Urban Development Plan “Les Aymerigues,” Terrassa. Final approval, June 25, 2009.
    Les Aymerigues Landowners Association.

  • Strategic Residential Area “Sector 129,” Granollers. Initial approval, September 2008.
    Department of Territorial Policy and Public Works, Government of Catalonia.

  • Preliminary and Partial Plan of Subsector 1 “Horta del Valira,” La Seu d’Urgell. Final approval, December 2006.
    Catalan Land Institute.

  • Partial Plan “Sector B,” Llinars del Vallès. Final approval, October 2006.
    Colonial.

  • 2006 – Pla Parcial “sector B”, Llinars del Vallès. Aprovació definitiva octubre 2006. Colonial.

  • Partial Plan “Sector A – La Vorada,” Llinars del Vallès. Final approval, February 2006.
    Llinars del Vallès City Council.

  • Partial Plans “Portal de Ciutat Nord, Centre and Sud,” Tortosa. Final approval, September 2004.
    Tortosa City Council.

  • Municipal Urban Development Plan of Tortosa. Final approval, July 2007.
    Tortosa City Council.

Strategic Planning

  • Public Space Master Plan of Montmeló. 2013
    Facilities and Public Space Service, Barcelona Provincial Council & Montmeló City Council.

  • Facilities Plan of Figueres, 2012
    Figueres City Council.

  • Comprehensive Intervention Plan for “Colònia Fàbrica i Les Casetes-Comellarets,” Flix.2010
    Flix City Council. Seventh Call of the Catalonia Neighborhood Law, 2010.

  • Diagnosis and Proposals for the Montmeló Facilities Master Plan, 2009
    Facilities and Public Space Service, Barcelona Provincial Council & Montmeló City Council.

  • Urban Planning Criteria for the Redevelopment of the N-II Corridor through Martorell, 2006
    Martorell City Council.

  • Comprehensive Plan for the Historic Center of Tortosa (PinCAt).2005
    Tortosa City Council. Second Call of the Catalonia Neighborhood Law,

Projects at BAMMP arquitectes (1999–2000)

Architecture student on the team:

Urban planning

  • Special Urban Improvement Plan “Vapor Gran”, Terrassa. Final approval in 2001.
    Aterba SA

  • Partial Plan “Can Roca II”, Terrassa. Final approval in 2001.

Architectural projects

  • Parc del Nord Towers, executive project, Terrassa. 2001
    Inmovalero SA

  • “Font Batallé II” Single-Family Housing Complex, executive project, Terrassa. 2001
    Invivsa SA

  • Headquarters of the President Amat Roumens Foundation (Fupar), executive project, Terrassa. 2001
    FUPAR

Awards and recognitions

  • New European Bauhaus Prize 2025 – Reconnecting with Nature
    Project: Green Axes in the Eixample – Superilla Barcelona

  • Catalonia Urban Planning Award “Manuel de Solà-Morales” 2024 (ex aequo)
    Project: Green Axes in the Eixample – Superilla Barcelona
    Catalan Society for Spatial Planning, IEC

  • Runner-up, Catalonia Urban Planning Award 2016
    Municipal Urban Development Plan of Sant Jaume de Llierca (Preliminary Plan, April 2015)
    Catalan Society for Spatial Planning, IEC

  • 1st Prize and commission
    Municipal Urban Development Plan of Sant Jaume de Llierca, 2014
    Sant Jaume de Llierca City Council

  • 1st Prize and commission
    Strategic Urban Plans in the Intercommunal Zone, Santiago de Chile, 2014
    SEREMI-MINVU (Ministry of Housing and Urbanism of Chile) and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)

  • Catalonia Urban Planning Award 2012
    Amendment to the Municipal Urban Development Plan of Tortosa – Improvement Plan for the Sant Jaume Neighborhood
    Project coordinator at Jornet-Llop-Pastor arquitectes
    Catalan Society for Spatial Planning (SCOT), Institut d’Estudis Catalans (IEC)

  • Urban Planning Award – XI Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism 2011
    Municipal Urban Development Plan of Montmeló
    Project coordinator at Jornet-Llop-Pastor arquitectes
    Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism

  • 1st Prize and commission, 2011
    Improvement Plan for the Sant Jaume Neighborhood – Carrer del Mig
    Project coordinator at Jornet-Llop-Pastor arquitectes
    Institut Català del Sòl and Tortosa City Council

  • Finalist, restricted competition, 2008
    Competition for the planning of the Central Directional Area in El Prat de Llobregat (Prat Nord)
    Project: Eco District Prat Nord
    Architect on the team at Jornet-Llop-Pastor arquitectes
    Prat Nord Consortium

  • Finalist, restricted competition, 2008
    Preliminary urban and architectural studies for the development of the “Velence Lake Peninsula”, Gárdony, Hungary
    Project: Bio Velence
    Architect on the team at Jornet-Llop-Pastor arquitectes
    Upside Investments, SL

  • 1st Prize and commission, 2006
    Ideas competition for the amendment and partial plan of the sectors “La Bòbila–Can Granota”, Granollers – La Roca del Vallès
    Architect on the team at Jornet-Llop-Pastor arquitectes
    Granollers and La Roca del Vallès City Councils, and Institut Català del Sòl
    In collaboration with BAMMP arquitectes

  • 1st Prize and commission, 2000
    Amendment to the Metropolitan General Plan along the Vía Augusta edges, Barcelona
    Architecture student on the team at BAMMP arquitectes
    Barcelona City Council

  • 2nd Prize, 2005
    Third Architecture Biennial of Vallès
    Project: Headquarters of the President Amat Roumens Foundation (Fupar), executive project, Terrassa
    Architecture student on the team at BAMMP arquitectes
    Vallès Delegation of the Architects’ Association of Catalonia

Teaching

  • Adjunct Professor at the Department of Urbanism, Landscape and Territory at the School of Architecture of Vallès (UPC-Barcelona Tech) since 2010. He has taught various subjects and studios related to urban regeneration at different scales, mainly focused on the city of Barcelona and its metropolitan region.

  • Professor in the “Metròpoli Master’s Program” at the Institut Metròpoli (IM), Autonomous University of Barcelona, where since 2018 he has coordinated the module “Metropolis and Ecological and Urban Challenges” and teaches the course “Urbanism and the Challenges of Socio-Spatial Justice.”

  • Co-coordinator of the “EIT Doctoral Training Network – Introduction to Urban Health” (2025) organized by the Institut de Salut Global (IsGlobal).
  • Professor in the “General Course on Public Space” organized by the Network of Walkable Cities (Red de Ciudades que Caminan).

  • He has previously taught at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), where in 2015 he coordinated the specialization course “Intervention and Management in Public Space” within the Postgraduate Program in Public Space.

  • He has been invited to lecture on urban strategies, urban planning, and public space in various national and international courses and master’s programs.

Investigation

  • Completion of the following courses in the Master’s Degree in Urbanism Research, DUPT-UPC:

    • 2003 – The Territories of the Post-Industrial City. Professor: Antonio Font i Arellano.
    • 2004 – Designing the Territory. Professor: Joaquim Sabaté i Bel.
    • 2007 – City-Territory Projects. Professor: Carles Llop i Torné.
    • 2007 – Mediterranean Urbanism, Ground-Plane Urbanism. Professor: Manuel de Solà-Morales.
    • 2008 – Research Seminar 1: The Park System of Chicago, Burnham and Bennett Plan,
    • 2009 – Research Seminar 2: Project Strategies for Urban Renewal in Housing Estates. The Opportunity of the Neighborhood Law. Professor: Carles Llop i Torné.
  • Publications and Conferences:
    • 2012 – Article: Matilla, X., Sotoca, A. “Social Identity and Mass Housing Estates” in Gyurkovich (ed.), M. Future of the City, Mass Housing Estates of Multifamily Housing Complexes. Cracow University of Technology Editions.
    • 2012 – Article: Sotoca, A., Matilla, X. “From Ground to Sky, or How to Lose Contact with the…” in Gyurkovich, M. (ed.), Future of the City, Mass Housing Estates of Multifamily Housing Complexes. Cracow University of Technology Editions.
    • 2011 – Conference: 23rd ENHR International Conference, “Mixité: an Urban and Housing Issue?”, held at the University of Toulouse 2-Le Mirail, July 5–8, 2011. Workshop WS-05 Large Housing Estates. Presentation: “Mass Housing Estates of the Vallès and the A-Road 150: A New Territorial Articulation.”
    • 2010 – Seminar: III Urbanism Research Seminar DUOT-UPC, Barcelona. Presentation: “Project Strategies for Urban Renewal in Housing Estates: The Opportunity of the Neighborhood Law.”

Conferences
  • 2026.11.13. Videopodcast "Can we transform our cities despite resistance to change?EIT Urban Mobility and Urban Mobility Explained Link
  • 2025.11.20. Conferencia: “Estratègies Urbanístiques per a la regeneració de barris” Jornades Repensem Girona 2025, Girona.
  • 2025.11.14. Conference: “Urban Regeneration Tools. Barcelona”. International Seminar on Regeneration of Regeneration of Aging Aging, Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, Seoul.
  • 2025.11.06. Conferencia: “Superant el Mite Olímpic. De la Ciutat dels Prodigis a la Ciutat dels Drets” Aula Extensió Universitària Rubí, Auditori Vallhonrat.
  • 2025.11.03. Conference: “Green Axis and Squares, Barcelona Eixample”. EUNIC Imagine Festival, Regeneration of Cities, CAMP Prague.
  • 2025.09.20 Keynote: “Past, Present and Future of Public Space”. VIII Biennale dello Spazio Pubblico Roma 2025. Department of Architecture, Roma Tre University.
  • 2025.05.08. Conference: “Barcelona Urban Transformations: Procedures, Tools and Project Strategies”. BROWNFIELDS PLANNING – Planning Methods and Tools for the Urban Revitalization of Brownfield Areas Conference. Institute of Physical Planning, City of Zagreb.
  • 2025.03.25. Conference: “Neighbourhoods Exemplars”.Ireland 2050: Balanced by Design – Delivering Liveable and Successful Towns and Cities Now Conference. The Academy of Urbanism & The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, Dublin Castle.
  • 2025.02.11. Interview with Sostenible.cat, with Marc Solanes Calderón. “La ciutat dels 15 minuts ha de promoure la vida en comunitat”
  • 2024.12.20. Lecture: “Barcelona’s Green Axes, a New Green and Social Infrastructure”.Local Technical Seminar of the Catalan Federation of Municipalities. Conference: “The Challenges of Reclaiming the Streets”, Barcelona.
  • 2024.11.08. Lecture: “Cities Facing the Present”. World Urbanism Day, Official College of Architects of Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro, Tenerife.
  • 2024.11.07. Conference: “Barcelona’s Green Axis: A New Environmental and Social Infrastructure”. Blue-Green Infrastructure and Water Quality Conference – POČÍTÁME S VODOU 2024, Prague.
  • 2024.10.04. Conversation: “Looking to Europe: Barcelona in Conversation – Quality of Life: Remaking the Post-Industrial City”. The Academy of Urbanism Conference, Manchester.
  • 2024.09.26. Lecture: “Barcelona Green Axes”. XI Congress of the Red de Ciudades que Caminan, Baluarte, Pamplona.
  • 2024.09.17. Conference: “Creating Proximity Conditions: Barcelona Superblock”. Sweden’s City Builders 2024 Annual Congress, Växjö, Sweden (online).
  • 2024.08.19. Keynote: “Creating Proximity Conditions: Barcelona Superblock”. My Neighbourhood Conference and Summer School, Queen’s University & UN-Habitat, Belfast.
  • 2024.07.15. Keynote: “Cities Facing the Future”. AMPS Conference – ETSAV UPC, Sant Cugat del Vallès.
  • 2024.06.27. Lecture: “Conditions for Proximity”. Proximity Planning International Congress, ETSAM-UPM, UC Berkeley, University of Azulay, TU Munich, ETSAM Madrid.
  • 2024.06.05. Roundtable: “Density and Proximity”, Urban Future 2024 Rotterdam, C40 Cities, Ahoy – Rotterdam. Roundtable: “Make Cities Green Again”, Urban Future 2024 Rotterdam, Ahoy – Rotterdam.
  • 2024.05.15. Lecture: “Superblocks Barcelona: Reclaiming the Streets”, organized by Grupo Ciudad sin Muros, WTC Mexico City.
  • 2024.04.10. Lecture: “Barcelona: Beyond Superblocks”, International Conference Ljubljana 2045, Kino Šiška Centre for Urban Culture, Ljubljana.
  • 2023.09.05. Lecture: “Towards the City We Want: Barcelona”, Cities4Everyone Webinar with Gil Peñalosa.
  • 2023.07.11. Lecture: “Tactical Actions Can Help Urban Planning”, online series “Mudam-se os tempos, mudam-se as cidades”, Master’s in Regional Urban Planning, University of Aveiro (online).
  • 2023.03.10. Lecture: “Reprogramming the City: Barcelona”, Proximity Planning Symposium, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley, Bechtel / Sibley Auditorium.
  • 2022.11.10. Roundtable: “City of Proximity”, International Conference on Loneliness, Poblenou Campus Auditorium, UPF.
  • 2022.11.04. Lecture: “Regenerating the City”, City Makers Congress 2022, Theater Zuidplein, Rotterdam.
  • 2022.10.26. Lecture: “Barcelona Superblock”, We Will Chicago – Transportation & Infrastructure session (online).
  • 2022.09.22. Lecture: “Public Space: Toward a New Urbanity”, Mextropoli 2022 – Festival de Arquitectura y Ciudad, Mexico City.
  • 2022.07.04. Lecture: “Towards a New Model of Green Street”, online seminar Ciudades Siglo XXI, Grupo Canari, Spanish Chapter of the Club of Rome.
  • 2022.06.08. Lecture: “Towards a New Model of Green Street”, Barcelona European Forest City Symposium, Sant Pau Modernist Complex, Sala 1902, Barcelona.
  • 2022.05.11. Lecture: “Public Space: Toward a New Urbanity”, Ex-Change Barcelona+Copenhagen Day, Model Festival of Architecture of Barcelona, DHUB Design Museum Auditorium, Barcelona.
  • 2022.05.04. Lecture: “The New Via Laietana: Balancing Symbolism”, La Barcelona Incòmoda – Debates on Memory and Public Space, La Model Conference Space, Barcelona.
  • 2021.11.24. Interview: “Barcelona Transformation and Superblock”, Urbanistica Podcast.
  • 2021.10.15. Lecture: “Superblock Barcelona”, Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods Seminar, C40 Cities (online).
  • 2021.10.14. Lecture: “Reprogramming Barcelona – On Vit Ensemble?”, Association d’Architectes Conseil d’État de France Seminar, Novotel Barcelona City.
  • 2021.10.01. Lecture: “Landscapes in Progress”, 11th International Biennial of Landscape Architecture of Barcelona, Palau de la Música, Barcelona.
  • 2021.09.03. Lecture: “Re-programming Barcelona: Making the City Public”, KÉK, Kisdiófa Community Garden, Budapest.
  • 2021.06.16. Lecture: “Barcelona: Recovering the City for People”, Proximity Cities Seminar, CIDEU (online).
  • 2021.05.31. Lecture: “Urban Renewal: Superilla Barcelona”, National Environmental Congress (CONAMA), IFEMA, Madrid.
  • 2021.03.16. Lecture: “Barcelona Superblock”, Inside the New European Bauhaus: How to Design and Build a More Sustainable Future?, EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service, Online Policy Roundtable.
  • 2021.01.27. Roundtable: “Barcelona Superblock”, Centre for London (online).
  • 2020.12.18. Lecture: “Reprogramming Barcelona”, Local Technical Seminar, Federation of Catalan Municipalities, Pompeu Fabra University Continuing Education Institute.
  • 2020.12.02. Lecture: “Reprogramming Barcelona: Facing the Climate Emergency”, Innovating Streets for People International Series, Urbanhub Aotearoa in collaboration with Waka Kotahi – New Zealand Transport Agency (online webinar).
  • 2018.01.16. Lecture: “Terrassa: How to Continue Weaving the City”, Amics de les Arts i Joventuts Musicals, Terrassa.
  • 2016.03.21. Roundtable: “40 Years Since the Approval of the Metropolitan Master Plan (PGM)”, Sala Prat de la Riba, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
  • 2014.11.25. Roundtable: “‘Meanwhile’ Uses as a Tool for Urban Transformation: Opportunities and Limits”, CUIMP Course “Temporary Use of Urban Voids”, CCCB, Sala Mirador.
  • 2013.11.20. Book presentation: “Manual of Public Space”, CUIMP Course “City for All!”, CCCB, Sala Mirador.
  • 2013.10.10. Roundtable: “The Urban Renewal, Regeneration and Rehabilitation Law under Debate”, Architects’ Association of Catalonia Auditorium, Barcelona.
  • 2012.06.20. Roundtable: “Debate on the Eurovegas Project”, Architects’ Association of Catalonia Auditorium, Barcelona.

Publications

Books and Book Chapters / Journal articles:

  • MATILLA, X. (2025) “The Barcelona Superblocks. Turning city streets into lively, green and healthy areas”. RE:PUBLIC SPACE AGENDA. https://republic-space.org/en/the-barcelona-superblocks-turning-city-streets-into-lively-green-and-healthy-sites/
  • GOLDA-PONGRATZ, K.; KUZMANIC, J.; MATILLA, X. (2025). Barcelona’s Municipal Policies since 15-M. Dérive, núm. 100, pp. 18–23.
  • MATILLA, X. (coord.) (2023). Superilla Barcelona 2015–2023. Barcelona: Ajuntament de Barcelona.
  • MATILLA, X.; GRAU, L. (coords.) (2023). Regenerar Barcelona 2015–2023. Barcelona: Ajuntament de Barcelona.
  • MATILLA, X. (2023). Barcelona ciudad. A Survey Barcelona. Volumen II: Proyectos (pp. 8–13). Barcelona: Ajuntament de Barcelona.
  • MATILLA, X. (2019). Situar la riera de Las Arenas en el centro del mapa. A CASTIÑEIRA, I. (ed.), Acercando distancias, un proyecto de ciudad (p. 21). Barcelona: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.
  • MATILLA, X.; PARÉS, M. (2017). La gobernanza del territorio, urbanismo y planificación. A GOMÀ, R. (ed.), Canvi d’època i de polítiques públiques a Catalunya. Barcelona: Crític SCCL.
  • MATILLA, X. (2017). De la temporalitat a la permanència: reptes d’un nou urbanisme. A FERNÁNDEZ, M. & GIFREU, J. (eds.), La utilització temporal dels buits urbans (pp. 219–224). Barcelona: Diputació de Barcelona.
  • MATILLA, X. (2017). Espacio público contemporáneo. Barcelona: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.
  • MATILLA, X. (2016). La enseñanza del urbanismo como proceso generador de cambio. Revista Papers IERMB, pp. 26–33.
  • MATILLA, X.; SOTOCA, A. (2012). Social Identity and Mass Housing Estates. A GYURKOVICH, M. (ed.), Future of the City: Mass Housing Estates of Multifamily Housing Complexes (pp. 56–64). Cracòvia: Cracow University of Technology Editions.
  • MATILLA, X.; SOTOCA, A. (2012). From Ground to Sky, or How to Lose Contact with the Site. A GYURKOVICH, M. (ed.), Future of the City: Mass Housing Estates of Multifamily Housing Complexes (pp. 45–55). Cracòvia: Cracow University of Technology Editions.
  • JORNET-LLOP-PASTOR; MATILLA, X. (2012). Manual de criteris per a la definició, programació, intervenció i gestió de l’espai públic municipal. Barcelona: Diputació de Barcelona.

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