IBERIAN INSIGHT

摘要

Here's a novel recipe for architectural innovation: Take a few decades of brutal political repression, mix with a transcontinental artistic tradition, and add a dash of hard-core soccer rivalry. I'm not joking, really, just trying to explain why the Iberian Peninsula has brought the world some of the best designers and buildings in recent times. The symmetry of Portugal and Spain's recent histories is striking: From storied pasts marked by conquering explorers, zealous clerics, and dynastic monarchies (all known for their artistic patronage) emerged culturally repressive modern dictators. The Portuguese suffered Antonio Salazar for five decades of isolationist totalitarianism; in Spain, it was Francisco Franco who closed the doors to Europe and the world.