In this first stage, the catalogue focuses on the modern and contemporary architecture designed and built between 1832 –year of construction of the first industrial chimney in Barcelona that we establish as the beginning of modernity– until today.
The project is born to make the architecture more accessible both to professionals and to the citizens through a website that is going to be updated and extended. Contemporary works of greater general interest will be incorporated, always with a necessary historical perspective, while gradually adding works from our past, with the ambitious objective of understanding a greater documented period.
The collection feeds from multiple sources, mainly from the generosity of architectural and photographic studios, as well as the large amount of excellent historical and reference editorial projects, such as architectural guides, magazines, monographs and other publications. It also takes into consideration all the reference sources from the various branches and associated entities with the COAC and other collaborating entities related to the architectural and design fields, in its maximum spectrum.
Special mention should be made of the incorporation of vast documentation from the COAC Historical Archive which, thanks to its documental richness, provides a large amount of valuable –and in some cases unpublished– graphic documentation.
The rigour and criteria for selection of the works has been stablished by a Documental Commission, formed by the COAC’s Culture Spokesperson, the director of the COAC Historical Archive, the directors of the COAC Digital Archive, and professionals and other external experts from all the territorial sections that look after to offer a transversal view of the current and past architectural landscape around the territory.
The determination of this project is to become the largest digital collection about Catalan architecture; a key tool of exemplar information and documentation about architecture, which turns into a local and international referent, for the way to explain and show the architectural heritage of a territory.
We kindly invite you to help us improve the dissemination of Catalan architecture through this space. Here you can propose works and provide or amend information on authors, photographers and their work, along with adding comments. The Documentary Commission will analyze all data. Please do only fill in the fields you deem necessary to add or amend the information.
The Arxiu Històric del Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya is one of the most important documentation centers in Europe, which houses the professional collections of more than 180 architects whose work is fundamental to understanding the history of Catalan architecture. By filling this form, you can request digital copies of the documents for which the Arxiu Històric del Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya manages the exploitation of the author's rights, as well as those in the public domain. Once the application has been made, the Arxiu Històric del Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya will send you an approximate budget, which varies in terms of each use and purpose.
Alta Diagonal is one of the most important business centres in Barcelona. With eight office floors, 22,000 m2 and a community of users of almost 200 people, this building stands in the heart of business to accommodate the most influential companies on the national and international scene, and places Barcelona among the best cities in the world. Alta Diagonal is the benchmark of the most prestigious companies in the city.
The refurbishment of the building demonstrates its commitment to architecture and design, sustainability, and innovation and technology. Alta Diagonal proposes a new concept of workspace in which the outdoor spaces play a decisive role and allow the building to have a dialogue with the city.
The architects designed the lobby as an outdoor space, so that Diagonal Avenue entered and crossed the building to the back garden. These two spaces, which invite you to enjoy the building, are one of the main contributions to the city of Barcelona and build an environment of peace and silence amidst the hustle of the city.
The rehabilitation carried out by BAAS arquitectura aims to connect the building with the city, provide it with greater light and improve its energy performance.
Some of the interventions have consisted of the construction of a large entrance pole in front of the building to give it more visibility and a new personality, in the arrangement of the rear garden expanding it with the incorporation of the old parking area and in the empowerment of the accesses with the creation of two cantilever canopies that identify the entrances in an easier way.
BAAS Arquitectura, Jordi Badia i Rodríguez