Another city for another life

This article presents a research on the social movements that emerged in Spain and some European cities in 2011, and describes how public space has become an essential element to claim back the right to the city, as Lefebvre proposed a few decades ago, and more recently David Harvey. In describing this re-appropriation of the city by the citizens, it also allows discussion of the current role of the architect. What are the challenges for the profession to participate actively in this dynamic and complex context? The participatory process that took place in Barcelona in order to give new uses to the abandoned complex of Can Batlló can give some responses to this question.