What is Spain's ugly 'paquismo' architecture actually called?
Find out what paquismo is, the ugly architectural style dividing Spain, and why some defend it as functional while others despise it.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Paquismo, feísmo, Moneoismo: the anti-aesthetic architecture dividing Spain
Spain's urban landscape is full of exposed brick blocks, unadorned facades and straight-edged shapes that many call "paquismo". A style that evokes the mass construction of the Franco era and today sparks heated debate between those who consider it functional and those who see it as an aesthetic assault. Social media and specialist forums have spent years asking what this anti-aesthetic architecture is called and, above all, why Spain is full of it.
What exactly is paquismo?
The term "paquismo" —popularly coined in reference to "Paco" as a generic name for the builder of the era— describes cheap, no-frills housing architecture that proliferated between the 1950s and 1970s. It is characterised by the use of face brick, the absence of mouldings or projections, and an aesthetic some describe as "shoeboxes for slaves". Other terms such as "feísmo" or "Moneoismo" —the latter alluding to the architect Rafael Moneo— are also used, though with different nuances.
Paquismo vs. brutalism: two sides of the same coin
The debate is not only aesthetic but ideological. While Soviet brutalism conveys an idea of pogre and conquest of space, Spanish paquismo is seen as the product of hardship and lack of ambition. However, some argue that paquismo served its purpose: providing decent housing for millions of Spaniards moving from the countryside to the city. "My parents went on their honeymoon to a village nearby," one account recalls, illustrating the austerity of the era.
The cost of aesthetics
The discussion heats up when renovations and maintenance come up. While some call for beautifying existing neighbourhoods, others point out that behind pretty facades there may be substandard but functional housing. The lack of children in playgrounds, neglect by the authorities and widespread "bad taste" are cited as reasons this aesthetic persists. A recommended book, "España antiestética" (Ugly Spain), delves into the issue.
The question left hanging is whether Spain can shake off this architectural legacy or whether paquismo is an open wound that will define the national landscape forever.
Related forum debates
Spain's urban landscape is full of exposed brick blocks, unadorned facades and straight-edged shapes that many call "paquismo". A style that evokes the mass construction of the Franco era and today sparks heated debate between those who consider it functional and those who see it as an aesthetic assault. Social media and specialist forums have spent years asking what this anti-aesthetic architecture is called and, above all, why Spain is full of it.
What exactly is paquismo?
The term "paquismo" —popularly coined in reference to "Paco" as a generic name for the builder of the era— describes cheap, no-frills housing architecture that proliferated between the 1950s and 1970s. It is characterised by the use of face brick, the absence of mouldings or projections, and an aesthetic some describe as "shoeboxes for slaves". Other terms such as "feísmo" or "Moneoismo" —the latter alluding to the architect Rafael Moneo— are also used, though with different nuances.
Paquismo vs. brutalism: two sides of the same coin
The debate is not only aesthetic but ideological. While Soviet brutalism conveys an idea of pogre and conquest of space, Spanish paquismo is seen as the product of hardship and lack of ambition. However, some argue that paquismo served its purpose: providing decent housing for millions of Spaniards moving from the countryside to the city. "My parents went on their honeymoon to a village nearby," one account recalls, illustrating the austerity of the era.
The cost of aesthetics
The discussion heats up when renovations and maintenance come up. While some call for beautifying existing neighbourhoods, others point out that behind pretty facades there may be substandard but functional housing. The lack of children in playgrounds, neglect by the authorities and widespread "bad taste" are cited as reasons this aesthetic persists. A recommended book, "España antiestética" (Ugly Spain), delves into the issue.
The question left hanging is whether Spain can shake off this architectural legacy or whether paquismo is an open wound that will define the national landscape forever.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (99 replies).
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