The University of Barcelona has opened a new exhibition, 'Intramurs. The Cradle of Modern Architecture in Catalonia (1872-1962)', in Barcelona. This free exhibition recovers the history of the former School of Architecture during its time in the Historic Building and its decisive role in shaping contemporary Barcelona. Visitors can see the exhibition until late 2026 on the second floor of the Pati de Lletres in the institution's historic building, Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm.
Curated by University of Barcelona professor Marcelino Jiménez León, the exhibition covers almost a century of architectural teaching. It starts from the School of Architecture's founding in 1871 under Elies Rogent, who also designed the Historic Building, and continues until its move to the Diagonal campus in 1962. During this period, the centre trained generations of architects who would transform Barcelona, including Antoni Gaudí, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, all key figures in Catalan Modernisme.
Immersive Experience in Historic Spaces
One of the exhibition's most unique aspects is its location. The display unfolds in the same corridors where architecture studies were taught for nearly a hundred years, making the visit an immersive experience. "We are immersed in the space we are talking about. The container is the content," Jiménez León told La Vanguardia, stressing that visitors walk through the exact places where some of the city's most influential architects trained.
Research for the exhibition helped locate fundamental spaces of the old school, such as the director's office, the library, and the staff meeting room. "Now we know where Gaudí or Domènech i Montaner studied, where the Barcelona we know today was debated," the curator noted. These spaces, now offices or work areas, are shown through historical photographs, plans, and explanatory panels.
Barcelona's Urban Transformation
The exhibition presents the history of the School of Architecture as parallel to Barcelona's urban development. Between the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th, the city underwent its most profound transformation, from the expansion of the Eixample district to major urban projects linked to the 1888 and 1929 Universal Exhibitions. "Between 1872 and 1962, Barcelona's most radical transformation occurred. Who did it? Architects. Where did they train? Here. That's why we speak of the cradle of modern architecture," Jiménez León explained.
The journey also looks at different historical moments that marked the school's evolution. This includes the rise of Modernisme, the rationalist shift of GATCPAC (Group of Catalan Architects and Technicians for the Progress of Contemporary Architecture), the impact of the Civil War, and post-war urban challenges. The exhibition shows how academic decisions and debates in these spaces influenced the city's growth and the definition of its architectural identity.
Recognising Key Figures
One section is dedicated to prominent individuals linked to the school. Alongside the great names of Modernisme, the exhibition includes architect Josep Lluís Sert, a representative of GATCPAC and 20th-century modernisation, and Mercè Serra Barenys, the first woman to qualify in architecture in Catalonia in 1964. According to Jiménez León, this inclusion broadens the historical narrative. "We also wanted to recognise the role of women in a traditionally male profession," he said.
Serra Barenys was the only woman in her graduating class, and her career marks a turning point for women entering architecture studies. The exhibition also recalls that the first women enrolled in architecture in Barcelona in 1911, though they did not finish their studies. Serra Barenys's figure symbolises the end of a process of academic and social opening.
Legacy and Future Steps
The exhibition is structured into four areas: the school's precedents, its historical evolution in the Historic Building, a selection of notable figures, and a timeline connecting academic history with events in Barcelona, Catalonia, and the world. Panels with documents, plans, and photographs reconstruct academic life and original spaces, while the museographic design uses light and colour to evoke the visual world of Modernisme.
For Jiménez León, the aim is to bring this legacy to the public. "A country needs to know its origin and where its transformation came from." The exhibition shows the University of Barcelona's Historic Building as a key place in knowledge creation and as the setting where much of modern Catalan architecture was conceived. "The exhibition is also a reflection on the transmission of knowledge," Jiménez León added. "'Originality consists of returning to the origin,' Gaudí said. It is time to listen to the master. 'Everything came from here,' the professor concluded. 'This place is the origin of modern Barcelona, and we wanted to return that history to the public.' A virtual tour is also available on the University of Barcelona's website. The exhibition 'Intramurs. The Cradle of Modern Architecture in Catalonia (1872-1962)' will remain open until late 2026.
