GAUDÍ IS KNOWLEDGE.
The Gaudí Research Institute (TGRI) is a catalyst for the new ideas that the universal genius Antoni Gaudí contributed in his time and today they are still fully valid for a wide spectrum of areas of knowledge: from science and the most futuristic techniques to business ambit, sustainability and social benefits. These was stated by the UNESCO and prove of it today are the international centres specialized in the highest technology and the most prestigious architects and engineers from all over the world.
Therefore, the research projects carried out by TGRI enrich our understanding of the world through the compilation of Gaudí’s thoughts and works, the dissemination of his creations and innovations and the exchange of international knowledge.
Mission
TGRI leads R&D projects in collaboration with the people who have led the research and studies of Gaudí’s original works and documents, with the scientists who have spearheaded the interrelation with universities and companies around the world that have spent decades developing Gaudí’s systems, with experts who have organized academic studies and numerous exhibitions around the world. TGRI responds to the desire of international researchers who have a long history of dedication to Gaudí and who demanded a center to turn to, both they and his disciples. After more than a century, it was an urgent need and a duty that Gaudí be recognized and studied in his native country as the universal genius that he is, as recognized by UNESCO itself.
What & How we do
World Congresses, bringing together researchers from all over the world in Barcelona, Shanghai, Chengdu and Valparaíso must be highlighted. TGRI has also organized symposia and exhibitions on Gaudí in Barcelona, Madrid, Zaragoza, Pusan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Chengdu, Valparaíso and Wuhan; and in 2015 the only museum in the world dedicated to Gaudí opened in Barcelona. It currently exhibits Gaudí’s museum collection at its headquarters in Colònia Güell.
Through one of the most valuable collections of material about Gaudí and the history of universal art, available at the headquarters of TGRI and the Antoni Gaudí Chair of University of Barcelona at the Colònia Güell (Historical Complex declared Cultural Heritage of National Interest and whose church is declared World Heritage by UNESCO) we build tools and communities to cooperatively expand the enormous Gaudí knowledge through research and education projects.
We conduct young researchers from all over the world according to their training and skills through the collection we have and the many projects we are directing, that’s the way we establish what they call content priorities and carry out formative research. This includes a huge variety of areas of knowledge given by the polyhedral and profound character of Gaudí’s figure: architecture, arts, engineering, geometry, design, mathematics, tourism, social urbanism, ecology, education, recycling, nutrition, history, landscaping, biomimesis, etc. Thus, we get the young scientist motivated to do his study on a subject that is next to him, stimulating and finally profitable for his formative process.
As part of our effort to build a community that enriches the transmission of international knowledge, we organize the Gaudí World Congresse, exhibitions, conferences, scientific publications, workshops, symposiums, and, ultimately, lead and catalyze a global hub that brings together and contacts the numerous academic and business centres around the world dedicated to Gaudí research. This generates new ideas and connections that feed future projects.
New Story
TGRI is writing a new story about Gaudí: the authentic Gaudí that we can now finally describe. This is the result of 50 years of patient work, applying a scientific method of investigation of Gaudí’s works and original documentary sources. The recovered materials have made it possible to understand Gaudí’s masterpieces in a more real, authentic and effective way. At the same time, the knowledge gathered about Gaudí is not only useful to rewrite the History of Art, but also proposes innovation methodologies valid for the 21st century and applicable both in architecture and design, the visual arts or business and teams’ management.
Creative Industries
The innovation promoted by TGRI is associated with the Creative Industries, since it is intended to generate a pool of creativity and innovation with high added value. The revolutionary working method created by Gaudí is based on science and modern concepts such as R&D, coworking, codesign, just-in-time, ecology, recycling, energy efficiency. From this method, TGRI aims to become a creative industry focus that generates solutions that can be transferred to architecture and the rest of the arts, but also applicable in other areas, especially business and commercial.
The founders
Pere Jordi Figuerola Rotger
Historian and museologist.
Conservator of the Cultural Heritage of the Archbishopric of Barcelona for four decades. This archdiocese has recognized the special relevance of his work in the preservation of the Gaudinian legacy, of which the Colònia Güell church and its heritage are testimony; as well as the numerous exhibitions that he has curated about the architect and which culminated with the installation of The Gaudí Exhibition Center museum with the most advanced technology, for all of which he has been recognized as an expert in the life and work of Gaudí
He has developed his teaching work as a professor at the Generalitat of Catalonia and in postgraduate and master’s degrees at the Ramon Llull University and the University of Barcelona, of which he has also been director of Gaudí Workshops. Coordinator and author of numerous collections and editorial publications, and curator of two hundred exhibitions. Technical coordinator of computer programming projects for institutions such as the Spanish Episcopal Conference, the Parliament of Catalonia, the Institute of the Ancient Near East of the University of Barcelona and the Diocesan Archive of Barcelona (Gaudí fund).
Manuel Medarde Sagrera
Industrial engineer, archaeologist and historian.
Author of numerous publications and curator of various exhibitions on Gaudí. He has been a teacher at the International Center for Built Heritage Studies of the School of Civil Engineers of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and in the monographic courses of the Egyptian Museum of Barcelona.
He has developed his professional life as an engineer at Ing. C. Olivetti & Co. and as an archaeologist at the Architectural Heritage Service of the Barcelona Provincial Council.
Secretary of the International Commission of Colònia Güell and member of the Diocesan Commission of Colònia Güell since its creation.
He has participated in the restoration of the Güell Palace and the Crypt of the Colònia Güell and has directed the Research Group of Gaudí’s Bellesguard Tower.
Marià Marín Torné
Historian and cultural manager.
Technical secretary of the Booksellers’ Guild of Catalonia. He has been director of the Book Area of the Catalan Institute of Cultural Companies (Generalitat de Catalunya).
Curator of exhibitions about Gaudí and author of various articles about the architect, such as: GaudíLab, Coworking: Was Gaudí a co-architect?, Learning from Gaudí, Gaudí and his business innovation model.
He has participated in several presentations and publications on the publishing sector, especially on digital issues: Digital challenges (Universidad Oberta de Catalunya), Publishing sector and new technologies (Culture Commission of the Senate of Spain, Digital Book and Reading Commission (Official College of Librarians and Documentalists of Catalonia). He teaches at the Bookseller School of the University of Barcelona and in several postgraduate and master’s degrees on economics of culture, books and digital reality (UOC, UB, and Pompeu Fabra University).
The headquarters
TGRI’s headquarters are in Colònia Güell, since this is where Gaudí installed his research and innovation laboratory. Research that he would later apply to his ultimate project: the Sagrada Família. The objectives of TGRI are to become the reference Center for the study, interpretation and dissemination of Gaudí; apply the Gaudí method to management, innovation and the creation of architectures, spaces and objects; the creation of labor projects and business and commercial solutions of current application; take advantage of investigative action to act in economic and business fields, engineering, architecture, sustainability, social benefit, tourism and cultural creation.
In June 2018 was held the inauguration of the new headquarters of TGRI in Colònia Güell. This event was attended by representatives of the Consulates of Japan and the United States of America, the Catalan Tourism Agency of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Archbishop of Barcelona, the Jean Monnet Chair & European Union Center at the University of Miami, the Futbol Club Barcelona, Arata Isozaki Spanish Associates, ESADE, the Japanese public television NHK, CaixaBank, the Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, the Latin American Studies Association, several multinational companies such as FI Group and Bella Aurora, professors and students of the University of Miami and of many other countries (Germany, Swiss, Austria, Japan, China, etc.).
Recently the delegate of the Government of Spain Catalonia, H.E. Maria Eugènia Gay, visited the headquarters of The Gaudí Research Institute in Colonia Güell, showing great interest in its collections and research projects.
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