The Architects’ Association of Catalonia houses the institution and stands as a landmark of the modern movement, designed by Xavier Busquets in 1962. It is composed of two distinctly separate elements: a horizontal base that outlines the perimeter of the square and frees the public space, and an office tower set slightly apart to avoid competing with the Cathedral. The continuous glass façade emphasises transparency and the structural logic of an architecture that, rather than blending in, establishes a clear contrast between tradition and modernity.
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The friezes on the façade, created by Pablo Picasso, depict scenes from Catalan popular culture and add an unexpected artistic layer to the ensemble.
