Thousands pay tribute to late architect Ricardo Bofill in his workshop

Thousands of people are expected to pay tribute to the late Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill in his workshop, in Sant Just Desvern, just in the west of Barcelona, over the next two days, Wednesday and Thursday. 

The artist passed away on January 14, and his family and friends have decided to open to the public part of the iconic building where Bofill’s magic happened. 

As of Wednesday at 10.30 am, some 5,000 people had registered for the event – registrations were still open in the early afternoon at https://homenaje-ricardo-bofill.eventbrite.es. 

Visits will go on through the night until Thursday at 6pm local time. From early in the morning on Wednesday, dozens of people were queuing to access the venue. 

A large saloon where meetings and events usually take place is one of the sites available. Decorated with a number of personal photos of Bofill with his relatives, and also his works, the room also boasts models of some of his most famous works, such as Walden 7, a building which is almost next door and that has become one of his masterpieces. 

Inspiration from the Sahara desert

Some of his pictures feature Bofill in the Sahara desert and with Tuareg people, where he used to find inspiration and happiness, as he himself explains in some interviews being shown. 

Indeed, the homage includes concerts in the saloon, such as one featuring Saharan music in remembrance of his links to this region. 

"A nomad, I am still a nomad," is one of Bofill's most famous quotes, and one that can be read on some postcards featuring pictures of the architect that visitors can take home.

An open-air courtyard with candles, photos, and a video showing him speaking in several interviews welcomes those arriving to pay tribute, who can also enjoy an interior garden where architecture combines with nature. 

Works

Bofill took part in a thousand projects in forty countries, and his influence on Barcelona is clear throughout the city, from projects such as the W Hotel on the Catalan capital’s seafront (also known as Hotel Vela), Catalonia’s National Theatre, and even Terminals 1 and 2 of the city’s airport. 

Outside of Barcelona, apart from the Walden 7 apartment building in Sant Just Desvern, his designs include the Turia river gardens running through the city of Valencia, and the neighborhood of Antigone in the French city of Montpellier. 

Beyond individual projects, his legacy includes the iconic architecture firm Ricardo Bofill Taller d'Arquitectura, located in an old cement factory called La Fábrica, right beside the Walden 7 building.

Its multidisciplinary team brought together architects, engineers, artists, writers, philosophers and more to create original and purposeful designs.