This document provides information about an upcoming tour of urban planning and design projects in Spain. The tour will visit major cities like Madrid, Valencia, Bilbao, and Seville, as well as smaller towns, over 8 nights. Participants will see large-scale urban planning projects, landmark buildings and structures, housing developments, and parks. The tentative itinerary includes travel between cities by high-speed train, plane, and coach. The estimated total cost is $3,000 per person, covering accommodation, transport, some meals, and tour expenses. A deposit is due in July to secure spots on the tour.

1. Urban Planning & Design
// TOUR
1. Parasol, Sevilla

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CONTENTS
1/ RATIONALE ...........................................................................................................................3
2/ PLACES & PEOPLE.................................................................................................................5
3/ ITINERARY & SCHEDULE .....................................................................................................9
4/ BOOKING YOUR PLACE..................................................................................................... 12
5/ TOUR ORGANISERS........................................................................................................... 13

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1/ Rationale
Spain has seen an enormous urban transformation in the last 20 years that has transformed its
towns and cities from vernacular architecture and urbanism to being one of the most innovative
and recognised countries in the field of the built of the built environment.
The projects of Spanish architects, urban designers and urban planners have come to influence
the field internationally with names like Rafael Moneo1
, Ricardo Bofill2
, Santiago Calatrava3
,
magazines like El Croquis4
, etc. becoming trend setters.
Whilst the landmark projects in Spain, like the world renowned Guggenheim Museum, have
attracted worldwide attention the greater work is largely unacknowledged beyond the Hispanic
sphere.
It is timely now that the dust of the GFC and Spanish crisis has settled to revisit the projects,
processes and people behind this great urban transformation that saw Spain build more
buildings than Germany, France and UK combined5
. There are key lessons to be learnt that go
beyond the aesthetics and talk about the act of designing and planning for urban environments
everywhere.
2. 'Ghost Airport', Ciudad Real
1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Moneo
2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Bofill
3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Calatrava
4
http://www.elcroquis.es/Shop
5
http://www.dw.de/burbuja-a-la-espa%C3%B1ola-en-alemania/a-17413070

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3. South Node of M30 ring road tunnelling

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2/ Places & people
This journey through Spain will concentrate on the following types of projects:
 Large scale urban and planning projects. These provide an insight into the role that the
central and regional governments have played in transforming Spain’s cities and towns. The
majority were driven by large infrastructure development. The outcomes often quite
singular.
 Open Space and landmark structures/buildings. These are mostly internationally
recognisable, award winning designs that range from being thought provoking follies to
trully integrated and place driven designs.
 Housing. Spain has a profusion of housing typologies that range from the traditional
courtyard housing in places like Sevilla to perimeter blocks that allow for mixed use with
high density apartments. Another area worthy of exploration are social housing projects.
4. Sketch for social housing in Mina del Morro, Bilbao

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Destinations
The places that will be visited can be divided into categories:
Core larger cities that have experienced high levels of change and where it is worth spending
some additional time to understand the context of these places
 Madrid
 Valencia
 Bilbao
 Sevilla
Supplementary smaller urban centres or large towns that have at least one or more distinct
projects and some interesting approaches to planning:
 Tudela
 Toledo
5. Kids school, Pamplona

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Sample sights

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People
We will attempt to contact some of the key players in the development of their respective cities
and towns. These will provide a deeper insight into the economic, social and political forces
behind the design and development of the Spanish transformation.
6. Patio de los Naranjos, Sevilla

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3/ Itinerary & schedule
No knowledge of Spain or Spanish Language is required as Jaime Parsons, one of the tour
organisers, is a native speaker who grew up in the country. He will act as both guide and
translator.
Interim itinerary
Participants in the tour are responsible for their own travel to and from Madrid at the start and
end of the tour respectively.
If they wish each invited participant may bring one guest of their choice.
The total duration of the tour will be 8 nights. The exact start and end dates are Saturday 18
October to Sunday 26 October. These dates were chosen based on the ideal weather conditions
in Spain and also because it corresponds with Victorian school term holidays.
This is a preliminary itinerary and is subject to change. Tour participants will be given a final
detailed itinerary closer to the travel dates.
Preliminary itinerary breakdown:
 Madrid Meet at the nominated date in the morning at Atocha Railway Station.
 Sevilla 2 nights (arrive high speed train plane leave via airplane)
 Bilbao 2 nights (arrive via plane leave coach)
o Stop over in Tudela for lunch
 Valencia 2 nights (arrive via coach leave via coach)
o Potentially a stop over in Toledo for lunch
 Madrid 2 nights (arrive via coach)

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7. Interim Travel Itinerary

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Cost
An initial estimate of the total cost is approximately $3000 per person if travelling alone. If the
room is shared the cost will be reduced by approximately $1200 for the second person or a
cost saving of about $600 per person sharing.
Total cost includes a charge to cover the travel arrangements, management and part of the
costs of the tour guides / agents.
Cost breakdown:
 Hotels. The cost will be for double rooms plus breakfast. The hotels will generally be 3 or
4 stars, or equivalent.
 Transport. Includes internal flight, train and coach as required to meet the above itinerary.
 Food. Breakfast cost will be part of the room charge. lunch will be included in the tour cost.
Dinner will be up to the discretion and responsability of the participants. Alcohol will be an
additional cost if not otherwise stated.
 Insurance. All participants must have an approved travel insurance to ensure unforseen
issues such as health conditions are covered.
 Other this includes expenses such as scheduled ticketed attractions and/or events.

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4/ Booking your place
To join this small and bespoke tour email your preferred first point of contact:
John Holland (johnholland@netspace.net.au)
Jaime Parsons (jaimeparsons@gmail.com)
To facilitate the efficent booking of accommodation and transport a deposit of $1000 AUD
will be required on Friday 11 July. Because all transactions will occur in the 2014-15 financial
year tax claims will be easier to process.
The deposit should be paid into the following Westpac bank account:
BSB 033636 Account # 335499
To assist in all legal and administrative matters a company called Urban Planning & Design
Tours Pty Ltd has been created. The ACN is 169 671 416. All bookings will managed through
this legal entity.
This is a professional development tour which means that it will potentially be tax deductible;
but please seek professional advice to confirm your personal financial circumstances.
8. Ciudad de las Ciencias by Calatrava, Valencia

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5/ Tour organisers
John Holland:
Is a strategic planner with many years of experience in Victorian planning both in the private
and public sectors.
His idea for the tour stems from his passion that planning in Melbourne should be inspired by
great places and projects from around the world.
Jaime Parsons:
Is an urban designer with a strong interest in the development of urban environments
throughout different cultures and environments and how these speak of both universalism and
genius loci.
Being half Spanish himself this is an opportunity to share some of what makes this country
fascinating and worthy of consideration.
9. Flooded M30 freeway tunnel, Madrid