Highrise Classicism: Ricardo Bofill and Taller de Arquitectura in the United States

A glance at the catalogue of works produced by Ricardo Bofill and his Taller de Arquitectura is enough to reveal their international ambitions. From Barcelona, the firm has expanded to Paris, New York, Tokyo, Moscow and North Africa. In particular, RBTA has established a relationship of mutual respect with the United States that has lasted several decades and borne fruit in three unique architectural projects: two skyscrapers in Chicago and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston. This article analyses RBTA's relationship with the profession in the United States, taking into account not only his built work, but also his own writings, the exhibitions of his international projects on American soil, the lessons he learned during his travels throughout the United States, and the development of design proposals for projects, built or unbuilt, in this new cultural and economic context. In short, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the more than thirty years during which RBTA cultivated an intense intellectual and professional relationship with the United States, which contributed greatly to the development of his commitment to postmodern classicism.