The Miró, a Unique Architectural Space

A building for Joan Miró’s work and contemporary creation

The Fundació building was opened to the public on 10 June 1975. Designed by Josep Lluís Sert, architect, town planner and great friend of Joan Miró, as well as one of the promoters of avant-garde architecture in Catalonia, the Fundació Joan Miró is an outstanding example of rationalist architecture in Barcelona, featuring a combination of Mediterranean features such as its central patio, rooftop terrace and skylights.

Constructed in white concrete and characterised by pure, functional forms, the building emphasises the use of natural light through skylights and large windows, harmonious integration with the landscape and the use of traditional materials such as ceramic floors and Catalan vaulted ceilings.

’This museum must be a living place, without any pretensions to monumentality, human, with a great variety of spaces.’ Joan Miró

Its layout includes a series of spaces around a central patio containing an olive tree, which forms the heart of the building and structures internal movement with other spaces. This patio harks back to other times and places in the Mediterranean. A second, northward patio offers panoramic views of the city, and a third, the Carob Tree Patio, is located on the eastern side of the building.

The Fundació has been enlarged twice, in 1988 and 2000. The architect responsible for both projects was Jaume Freixa, a student and collaborator of Sert’s who maintained its original aesthetic.