Prominent Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill, founder of the RBTA office and designer of Walden 7 and Les Espaces d'Abraxas, among others, has passed away at the age of 82. His projects form the canon of European postmodernism.
Les Espaces d'Abraxas
photo by Klaas Vermaas / flickr
The author of more than a thousand projects around the world, he died on January 14, 2022 in Barcelona. The news of the artist's death was announced by the RBTA office he founded - Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura. At the same time, the statement assured that work on projects already started will continue. The management of the office will be taken over by the architect's sons, Ricardo Emilio and Pablo. RBTA has been in continuous operation since 1963. On January 26 and 27, public events will be held at the headquarters in Barcelona to bid farewell to Ricardo Bofill.
major realizations
Antigone
photo: Wikimedia Commons
Ricardo Bofill is best known for his realization of extremely photogenic residential complexes. In Montpellier, he realized one of the major urban developments of his career - the Antigone neighborhood. Developed since 1979 according to an urban plan by the architect, with many buildings also designed by Bofill and his Taller.
La Fabrica
photo: Forgemind ArchiMedia / flickr
Another development made famous for setting part of the plot of "The Hunger Games" there is Les Espaces d'Abraxas in Noisy-Le-Grand near Paris. This monumental social housing development was built in 1982. Ricardo Bofill's design philosophy can also be seen in the design of his own studio. La Fabrica, built in 1975, is both his workplace and his family home.
La Muralla Roja / Walden 7
photo by Cabrera Photo, StoptheRoc / flickr
The architect's most famous design buildings also include Barcelona's Walden 7 (1975) and La Muralla Roja (1973).
life and work history
The extremely interesting history of Bofill's life, work and studio, his transformations and the successive trends in which he designed, is presented in a lecture by Dr. Dorothy Jedruch. You can also read about his French realizations of residential estates in the book "Block as a work of art", where his works are juxtaposed with the designs of Emil Aillaud and Le Corbusier.
