Managing residential buildings throughout their entire life cycle and overcoming the current fragmentation of responsibilities were the main topics discussed at an event held on 21 October at the Sala Mirador of the Architects’ Association of Catalonia (COAC). The event was part of the programme leading up to the 1st Barcelona Facility Management Congress 2026, which will take place on 25, 26 and 27 November, coinciding with Barcelona’s designation as World Capital of Architecture 2026 and the Congress of the International Union of Architects.
The discussion focused on the application of Facility Management (FM) in the residential sector, where responsibility for managing buildings is often divided among different organisations and professionals. Facility Management, the discipline responsible for managing built environments and their supporting services throughout their life cycle, offers an integrated approach to better coordinate the different stages, from design and construction to maintenance and ongoing building operations.
Cristina Mora, President of the COAC’s Barcelona branch, welcomed participants and emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to housing management that extends beyond architectural design and construction. She also highlighted the work of the Facility Management working group established by COAC, which brings together professionals from different disciplines involved in the built environment.
Felip Neri, a member of the Congress Scientific Committee, explained that the event was part of the programme of activities leading up to the 1st Barcelona Facility Management Congress 2026, jointly organised by the Catalan Facility Management Association (ACFM), Barcelona City Council, COAC and the Government of Catalonia.
The discussion brought together Jordi Bosch, Deputy Director-General for Urban Habitat and Rehabilitation at the Government of Catalonia; Veva Jorba and Mireia Masó, responsible for project delivery and maintenance, respectively, at Sostre Cívic; and Eva París, Head of the Department for Housing Stock Control, Regulation and Building R&D&I at the Housing Agency of Catalonia. The session was moderated by Lluís Dalmau, a member of the Congress Scientific Committee.
Among the main conclusions, participants agreed on the need to replace the current fragmented approach to housing management with a model that considers every stage of a building’s life cycle. This requires closer cooperation between technical disciplines, public institutions and the professionals involved.
The event also highlighted the importance of entrusting this integrated, cross-disciplinary management to professionals with specific training in Facility Management, supported by specialised digital tools that facilitate the coordination, monitoring and maintenance of residential buildings.