Gustavo Gili building Barcelona

ADIAR Community: Urban Vision at the Historic Gustavo Gili Building

For our third ADIAR meeting, we traveled to Barcelona to explore a landmark of 20th-century architecture: the Gustavo Gili Building. Originally designed as a "paper building" for one of Spain’s most influential publishing houses, this Rationalist gem provided the perfect backdrop for our deepest urban exploration yet.

The Highlights of the Visit:

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  A Masterpiece of Modernism: We toured the award-winning structure, admiring its innovative courtyard and functional design that once housed the editorial heart of Barcelona's literary world.  

  
  

• The Scale of the City: The centerpiece of our visit was studying the massive physical model of Barcelona. This detailed scale model allowed our group of architects and designers to analyze the city's unique Eixample grid and urban evolution from a bird's-eye perspective.

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  Architectural Dialogue: We discussed the intersection of publishing history and architectural heritage, reflecting on how historical "industrial" spaces like this one continue to inspire modern workplace design.  

  
  

This visit was more than a tour; it was a deep dive into the urban DNA of Barcelona. By connecting the history of the Gustavo Gili "paper building" with the physical reality of the city model, our community continues to expand its professional horizons across Spain.  

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for this inspiring day in Catalonia!