Ashes and Granite – Destruction and Reconstruction in the Spanish Civil War and Its Aftermath

In this book, author Olivia Munoz-Rojas looks at the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath, critically examining the wartime destruction and post-war rebuilding of three prominent sites: Madrid, Bilbao, and Barcelona. Each case highlights different dimensions of the material impact of the conflict, the practical challenges of reconstruction, and the symbolic uses of the two processes by the winning side. From an original and fruitful angle, the book reveals new aspects of the Spanish Civil War and the evolution of the Franco regime, as well as more general insights into the topic of wartime destruction and post-war reconstruction of cities. The title - Ashes and Granite - both visually and texturally captures the damage caused by the war, as well as the Franco regime's concept of the ideal Hispanic construction material. Written from an interdisciplinary perspective at the intersections of urban/political history and theory, planning, and architecture, the book draws largely on unpublished archival material. Key features of the Franco regime's rebuilding program are considered, such as the priority given to rural reconstruction and the persistent search for a national architectural style. The case of Madrid centers on the failure of the Falange's ambitious plans for a neo-imperial capital as illustrative of the regime's gradual shift from state planning to privately-driven urban development. The case of Bilbao focuses on the reconstruction of the bridges of the city to demonstrate how, occasionally, the regime managed to turn destruction and reconstruction into opportunities for successfully marking the beginning of what was perceived as a new era in Spain's history. Finally, the opening of Avenida de la Catedral in Barcelona exemplifies how wartime destruction sometimes facilitated the implementation of controversial planning, acting as a catalyst for urban redevelopment. Moreover, the opening of the avenue contributed to the disclosure of the ancient Roman city-wall, allowing the regime to appropriate the ancient legacy symbolically.