The World Architecture Festival in Barcelona is in its second day and it’s great seeing New Yorkers doing so well in this international competition.

Marion and Michael (Weiss/Manfredi) won for their spectacular Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle and Snohetta (OK via Norway) for their Oslo Opera House. I was on the housing jury and we were presented with 13 strong projects: high rise towers, smaller garden apartments (some with a mix of market rate flats) and a ten unit housing scheme in the shape of a slithering garden snake. Except for the bizarre snake these were all different types of public housing. I am not sure why an American would be selected for this jury but seeing these ‘social’ projects was inspiring. It gives one hope we can do decent housing in this country for someone other than just the rich (Come on Barack, pull this thing out!). We gave our award to Mountain Dwellings in Denmark by the Bjarke Ingels Group (top).

It’s a great project but also have a look Adelaide Wharf by Allford Hall Monaghen Morris in Hackney, London (above).

And what can I say about the snake??