Our project explores the After Gaudí vision through the lens of an Interpretation Center—not by simply copying forms, but by deeply understanding his geometry and structural logic.

Project Framing: A 2026 Centenary Monument in the Born District.

The monument site is strategically located in the Born District, deeply connected to the urban fabric between the Sagrada Familia Basilica and the Cathedral.

Figure 1: The Four Stages of Project Framing by Author.

The Interpretation Center: Defining the Cultural Program

An Interpretation Center is not just an exhibition space; it is a spatial narrative and a new kind of interactive museum. in our case, it specifically communicates the cultural and architectural importance of the sacristy, honoring the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death. it becomes a device to translate his complex logic and architectural intelligence to the public.

Figure 2: Peter Rich Architects, “Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre,” Peter Rich Architects, accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Figure 3: Luis Machuca & Associates, “Interpretation Center of the Andalusian Prehistory,” ArchDaily, accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

Nature as Algorithm: Morphological Elements of Nature

Morphological elements derived from nature, such as water dynamics, airflow patterns, and the adaptive behavior of vegetation in response to environmental forces were systematically correlated.

Figure 4: Morphological Elements of Nature – Water and Air.
Figure 5: Morphological Elements of Nature – Vegetation.

In parallel, the structure of the human body was examined, and its proportions were translated into a spiral, circular system that served as the foundational framework for the project’s structural elements. This biomimetic investigation ultimately functioned as the underlying algorithm guiding the generative design process.

Figure 6: Morphological Elements of the Human Body – Bone Structure.

Tower Concept and Initial Sketches

Through abstraction and iterative sketching, a highly systematized “morphological catalogue” was developed. This system allowed us to generate specific, parametric components that we believe best align with gaudí’s logic and the structural integrity of the Sagrada Família.

Figure 7: Sketches of the Interpretation Center by Author.

Spatial Narrative

Figure 8: Narrative GIF by Author.

The narrative of the center follows a vertical ascent from the tactile foundations of Gaudí’s craft to the digital ether of his modern legacy. It begins in The Roots & The Material, where the raw textures of the natural world and traditional craftsmanship serve as the primary architectonic language. This evolves into The Analogue Gravity, a phase dedicated to his radical structural laboratories where physical forces were tamed through empirical, hanging models. As the journey moves past the architect’s life, The Digital Decoding explores the transition from fragmented physical archives to the aeronautical software required to finally map his complex ruled surfaces. The path culminates in The Dematerialized Legacy, illustrating how Gaudí’s geometric DNA continues to propagate through contemporary computational design, proving that his work is not a static history, but a living, generative framework.

Schematic Design

Figure 9: Schematic Design GIF by Author.

Form and Structure Catalogue

Figure 10: Catalogue GIF by Author.

Morphogenetic Seed

Figure 11: Selected Module Diagram by Author.

Module Exploration

Figure 12: Architectural concept exploring parametric tessellation and natural light interaction. Image generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .

Decoding the Morphogenetic Seed

Figure 13: Fabrication Diagrams by Author.

From Computation to Fabrication

Figure 14: Fabrication Diagrams by Author.
Figure 15: Fabrication Process Animation by Author.
Figure 16: Photo of the Fabricated Piece by Author.
Figure 17: Assembly Animation of the Fabricated Piece by Author.

Form and Structure Catalogue

Figure 18: Catalogue GIF by Author.
Figure 19: Catalogue GIF by Author.
Figure 20: Catalogue GIF by Author.
Figure 21: Catalogue GIF by Author.
Figure 22: Selected Column Design Diagram by Author.
Figure 23: Ceiling Paramorph Diagram by Author.
Figure 24: Image of 3D-Printed Ceiling Paramorph by Author.

Architectural Strategy – Schematic Design

Figure 25: Schematic Design Diagram by Author.

Process Overview – Progress and Methodology

Figure 26: Architectural concept exploring parametric tessellation. Images generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .
Figure 27: Architectural concept exploring parametric tessellation. Image generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .
Figure 28: Architectural concept exploring parametric tessellation. Image generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .
Figure 29: Architectural concept exploring parametric tessellation. Images generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .
Figure 30: Architectural concept exploring parametric tessellation. Images generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .
Figure 31: Architectural concept exploring parametric tessellation. Images generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .
Figure 32: Architectural concept exploring parametric tessellation. Images generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .

Process Overview – Material Selection

Before a single render was produced, the project demanded something deeper a thorough investigation into materials and how they would truly read in space. Every surface was chosen deliberately, rooted in extensive research and directly inspired by the material language of the Sagrada Família itself.

Red granite, Montjuïc limestone, and Catalan marble ground the palette in the sacred textures of Gaudí’s masterwork. The custom tiles designed and crafted in collaboration with Ceràmica Cumella, the same atelier behind the iconic pieces of the Jesus Tower, carry that same spirit of artisanal precision into this project.

Figure 33: Architectural concept exploring Materiality. Images generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .
Figure 34: Architectural concept exploring Materiality. Images generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .

The Interpretation Center – Ground Floor Double Height

The project enters its most defining phase yet, the finalized interior spaces. The Ground Floor Double Height is where the architecture truly reveals itself. Rendered through xFigura’s AI platform, this space becomes a study in light and mass: daylight pierces through the intricate screen walls, casting ever-shifting patterns that animate every surface. Not simply illuminated, alive.

Figure 35: Architectural concept interior rendering. Image generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .
Figure 36: Architectural concept interior rendering. Image generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .

The Interpretation Center – First Floor Triple Height with Mezzanine Floors

Ascending the tower brings visitors to the First Floor Triple Height space, offering sweeping, multi-level views from the mezzanines.

Figure 37: Architectural concept interior rendering. Image generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .

The Interpretation Center – Amphitheatre

The space seamlessly incorporates an Amphitheatre, fulfilling our goal of providing a dedicated zone for programming and education, as well as the resting area before someone enters the Mirador of the tower.

Figure 38: Architectural concept interior rendering. Image generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .

The Interpretation Center – Animation

Ultimately, After Gaudi stands as the final output: successfully translating a highly complex architectural vision into a beautiful, accessible public experience.

Figure 39: Architectural concept interior rendering. Videos generated by Author via xFigura accessed 20 April  2026 .