The Manifesta 15 Barcelona team finds a home in an iconic building

What was once the headquarters of the former publishing house Gustavo Gili has now become the offices for the Manifesta 15 Barcelona team, where preparations are well underway ahead of the 15th edition of the European Nomadic Biennial. Located in Eixample, the emblematic building is an icon of the rationalist architectural movement, a memorable era in the architectural history of Barcelona. The construction was completed in 1961, and the following year it was awarded the FAD Architecture Prize.

Designed by the architects Joaquim Gili and Francesc Bassó, from Grup R, it is indicative of the rationalist architectural movement of Barcelona and went against the monumentalism of post-war Spain. The building was designed to house the production and storage facilities of the publishing house and to coordinate the distribution of a wide catalogue of publications from the world of art and architecture. The building, which was declared a Place of National Interest, has been well maintained over the past 60 years and now, with its acquisition by Barcelona City Council, it has become part of the city’s protected heritage.

Manifesta 15, invited by the City of Barcelona, is thrilled to be able to house its offices in the Gustavo Gili building and is working on a public programme which will be in these premises and will be launched in the autumn of 2023.