What do the objects around us say about us? Dr. María Villanueva Fernández addressed this question, among others, on April 29 at the Casa de Cultura in Los Arcos. Under the degree scroll Approach to the History of 20th-Century design , degree scroll the lecture attendees a perspective on our country’s recent history, viewed not through political milestones, but through the evolution of its forms and material culture.
The session took place as framework course led by Román Felones, “Another History of Spain Through Art, Literature, and Music,” an initiative that aims to bring cultural heritage closer to the public from less conventional perspectives.
A three-stage tour
Within the framework project DISARQ project , Villanueva, director—along with Professor Héctor García-Diego—of project research project research architecture’s contributions to design 1925–1975), structured her discussion paper three core topic. Through these stages, she contextualized the work Spanish pioneers and creators in relation to the international scene, demonstrating that Spain was not immune to modern trends, despite historical difficulties.
The speaker the history of design a series of "scenes" that chronicle the birth and development the discipline. Throughout this journey, it became clear how design from a craft or purely aesthetic activity into a tool for development and social development .
The architect: manager, liaison, and educator
One of the central themes of the session was the recognition of the architect as a key figure in the origins of design . As Villanueva explained, these professionals transcended their traditional role to become core topic national machinery, acting as indispensable managers and links between a still-nascent industry and society’s new needs. Beyond technical creation, architects undertook a profound educational mission aimed at “cultivating the public’s taste”—a mission statement carried out not only through the quality of everyday objects but also through intensive knowledge dissemination the organization of exhibitions that proved crucial for showcasing and promote ways of living.
"The Spanish Way of Life"
One of the highlights of the afternoon was the discussion about the human driving force behind this discipline. According to Villanueva, the impetus for the development design Spain was not merely commercial, but rather a desire to improve people’s lives.
At the end of the session, the doctor emphasized that the collection of furniture and objects created throughout the 20th century serves as a living testament to our way of life. design, written request, is not just a matter of form, but a reflection of Spanish identity and daily life, capturing in each piece our way of living and interacting with our surroundings.”
* DISARQ (project , funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the ERDF, EU).
