The XVII Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism (BEAU) will debut in Tokyo, marking its first international tour. The exhibition is scheduled to begin on September 4th at the Spanish Embassy in Japan, in Tokyo. This is the event's first international venue, following stops in Ponferrada, La Palma, and Avilés.
Curated by Ander Bados and Miguel Ramón under the theme Common Flows, Tokyo represents the penultimate stop of this itinerant circuit. The objective of the cycle is to globally promote the talent, diversity, and innovative capacity present in Spanish architecture and urbanism.
The show will feature twenty award-winning projects in the Works section, complemented by models (maquettes) created specifically for this tour. Instead of faithfully replicating the buildings, these pieces focus on the constructive, spatial, and material elements that create links and similarities with Japanese architecture, offering a new perspective on the selected works through the dialogue between the two cultural and architectural contexts.
Additionally, during the opening, there will be a public event titled Common Practices: Spanish and Japanese Architectures in Hyperconnected Territories. This meeting will feature Ryue Nishizawa, representing the Office of Ryue Nishizawa and SANAA; Roger Tudó, from Harquitectes; and Suzuko Yamada, from Suzuko Yamada Architects. The discussion will address how both architectural cultures adapt to an increasingly connected world while maintaining their connection to identity, territory, and daily life, exploring themes such as landscape, materiality, memory, and ways of living.
Under the concept of Common Flows, the XVII BEAU is structured around five thematic axes: materials, people, energy, data, and environment, viewed as crucial flows shaping contemporary society. In this edition, which was convened by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda (MIVAU) in partnership with the Higher Council of Colleges of Architects of Spain (CSCAE) and the Arquia Foundation, 55 proposals were recognized: 20 in the Works category, 15 in Dissemination and Publications, and 20 in Final Degree Projects.



