A Closer Look

Koolhaas claims that the Generic City is one without layers.  A city in which the old is forgotten and abandoned for the new.  A city in which the past is measured by this  “progressive forgetting.”

Barcelona, though moving closer towards Koolhaas' idea of a Generic City in its touristic branding and overflow of landmark architecture, is still able to retain its identity through its layers. 

These layers expose evidence of history, culture, and complexity that provide the uniqueness Barcelona thrives upon.  Layers can be seen not only through buildings and antiquities, but also through the life of different neighborhoods, and the generations of people that make up the city.

Without these visible layers and the care to expose them, however, Barcelona's glimpses of generic will take over the city.