Piscina Barcelona hosts a discussion on water culture, architecture and well-being

As part of Barcelona 2026 World Capital of Architecture, Piscina Barcelona will organise the international conference “Water & Space: designing the future of wellbeing” on 27 May at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion. The event will bring together architects and designers to analyse the role of water in the creation of urban and architectural spaces aimed at improving quality of life.

The session aims to provide a space for reflection and dialogue on water as a structuring element of architectural design, capable of influencing the way we live, our relationship with the environment and our experience of wellbeing. Through presentations and cross-disciplinary discussions, the event will explore how this element can redefine the relationship between architecture, landscape, community and wellbeing.

The first discussion will focus on the relationship between architecture and design, with water as a creative force and a tool for urban transformation. Participants will include Jorge Arditti, architect and co-director of Arditti+RDT/Arquitectos; Txell Manresa i Traguany, architect and partner at Mipmarí; and a representative from the Fluidra Foundation. The speakers will share different perspectives on the role of water as a design tool and its contribution to the creation of more human, resilient and socially connected urban environments.

The programme will continue with a discussion on the link between water and well-being, examining emerging trends and experiences that are redefining the design of public and private spaces linked to health, comfort and the landscape. Speakers will include Paula Bruna, architect and landscape architect at Eme Concepts; Paulo de Sousa, architect at Saraiva + Associados; Juan López Navarro, architect at Savills; and Isabel López Vilalta, interior designer and owner of Isabel López Vilalta+Asociados, with contributions focusing on new approaches to projects and innovative solutions.

A bridge between Europe, Latin America and the Middle East

One of the central themes of the event will be the roundtable discussion on perspectives from Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, a dialogue that will bring together shared contexts, challenges and opportunities regarding the design of water-related spaces and their social impact. Participants will include Fernando Rial, design director at KSA Design & Business Development; Vanessa Alejandra Ortega, chief architect at Sordo Madaleno; Diego Calderón, founding partner and creative director at DF_DC; and Luis Balaguer Rioja, Design Director & COO at Phiba Architecture.

The session, moderated by David Cámara, director of the Business Association for Habitat, Internationalisation and Contract (UNEX), will conclude with a final discussion and a networking session, designed to facilitate exchange among attendees and strengthen connections between professionals on both sides of the Atlantic.

With this initiative, Piscina Barcelona is launching a new knowledge forum that extends beyond the scope of the trade fair. The event forms part of the official programme for Barcelona 2026 World Capital of Architecture, a designation promoted by UNESCO and the International Union of Architects, which will transform the Catalan capital, between February and December 2026, into a global hub for reflection on architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture.

Piscina Barcelona, organised by Fira de Barcelona in collaboration with the trade association ASOFAP, is the European trade fair for the swimming pool, wellness and outdoor sectors with the greatest international reach. Its next edition will take place from 15 to 18 November 2027 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue.

Barcelona, May 13th, 2026

PROGRAMME AND REGISTRATION here

Maria Dolores Herranz
Tel. 93 233 25 41
[email protected]