Galeria Joan Prats presents Footprints, the first exhibition of the architect Josep Lluís Mateo.

Through a selection of works and projects, the exhibition approaches, in a non-chronological way, the trajectory of Mateo, looking for ways to narrate architecture from within the topics inherent in its practice. Mateo’s architecture is characterized by the inheritance of modernity, which is interested in the pursuit of light, an intense dialogue with the context, and the connection between the idea and the material. His projects are reflective and strategic; they speak about space while taking care of the relation between the mineral and the vegetable.

Scale models, photographs, videos, collage and sketches make it possible to apprehend the complexity of his creative and constructive process. We find, for example, historical materials of emblematic projects such as the urbanization of the medieval town of Ullastret, mockups that reflect the development of a constructive concept, as is the case of the facade of the International Convention Centre of Barcelona, or photographs that show the interaction of the work with its surroundings.

“A journey, a path, is made up of a succession of points, of steps, of footprints, which, viewed as a whole, indicate a direction, reveal (or not) their meaning.
Here, without pretending to draw the line, we show a few points, some footprints, in our journey.
So others can draw it.
These moments are explained by the materials that produced them.
Although architecture is a complex phenomenon in its result (it deals with matter, space, use, economy…), in its production there is an initial moment of synthesis that generates the energy needed to develop it.
There is also a final moment that synthesises, in a second, like a flash, all the effort that has been made.
To show these initial materials, which condense the idea, and some final documents that shed light on the reality, is the purpose of this exhibition.”
Josep Lluís Mateo

The exhibition highlights the work of photographers who accompany the vision of Josep Lluís Mateo as Aldo Amoretti, Gabriele Basilico, Jordi Bernadó, Jan Bitter, Luc Boegly, Ferran Freixa, Adrià Goula, Albert Masias and Xavier Ribas.

Opening June 21st, 7 pm 

22/06/2018 - 14/09/2018

Mateo Arquitectura

Josep Lluís Mateo is an architect from the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura of Barcelona (ETSAB) and doctor “cum laude” from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). Since 2002, he is Professor of Architecture and Design at the ETHEidgenössische Technische Hochscule Zürich. He has given conferences and courses in the main academic and professional institutions of the world, among others: visiting academician in the J.P. Getty Center in Los Angeles, visiting professor at Harvard University-GSD and at AHO Oslo. In his career, awarded with the A+2011 Prize for the best professional career, some works standout such as the urbanization of the medieval town of Ullastret, Girona (Santander Biennial Award 1991); the plan for the organization of the sports area of the Universitat Autònoma of Barcelona (special mention FAD Awards for Architecture and Interior Design 1993); the housing complex on the Borneo pier in Amsterdam (CEOE Award 2001); the single-family house in Mallorca (Prize for the Best Work in the section of single-family housing 1997-2001 granted by the Official College of Architects of the Balearic Islands); the CCIB - International Convention Centre of Barcelona (Top International Purpose Award 2009 – C&ITE Magazine and Gold for
the Best Convention Centre Abroad 2010 – M&IT Industry Awards); the Headquarters of the Deutsche Bundesbank in Chemnitz (2004, Germany); the Sant Jordi Residence Hall in Barcelona (Archizinc Trophy 2008); the WTC Almeda Park building in Cornellà, Barcelona (A+ Award for architecture for the work 2010); La Factory, office building in Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris (NAN Architecture and Construction Award 2010); the Headquarters of the company PGGM in Zeist, Holland (NAN Architecture and Construction Award 2011); the Filmoteca de Catalunya (2012, Barcelona); the Centro de Cultura Contemporânea, as a
culminating piece of the renovation of the historical centre of Castelo Branco (2013, Portugal); and Bayonne. Entrée de ville, urban redevelopment of the urban front of the Adour river, including building project (2016, France). His work has been widely
published and exhibited in the MoMA (New York, 2006), in the Pavillon de l’Arsenal (Paris, 2009), the Venice Biennial (2012) and in the Galerie d’Architecture (Paris, 2013), among other places.

To provide you with more information and images, please contact sbarbero@mateo-arquiectura.com