Facilities

The Casa Milà, also known as “La Pedrera” is the official head office of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture. The building, designed by Antoni Gaudí and completed in 1910, has belonged to the Caixa Catalunya and the headquarters of its Social Work since 1986. It also houses a major cultural center that is one of the city’s key reference points due to the various activities and exhibitions it organizes.

La Pedrera will house the Institute’s public activities, including Open Lectures and Dialogues. It will host the Critical Seminars, as well as the annual BIArch Advisory Council meeting.

In addition, the BIArch offers a variety of facilities for students enrolled in the MBIArch to develop their intensive work. These studios, model workshops, networking services (internet access, scanning, printing, etc.) and digital media facilities will be open full time. Students are advised to supply their own computers and software, although the BIArch will provide some workstations.

Libraries & Archives

The BIArch will provide its students full access to the library and archive facilities of the Col.legi Oficial d’Arquitectes de Catalunya (COAC) and other universities related to the Institute.

The COAC’s library is the 2nd of Europe in number of volumes. In total, the library has nearly 180.000 books within the five territorial COAC departments. The COAC library in Barcelona holds 73.000 resources between books, cd’s, videos, DVD’s, websites, etc. For further information, visit the Library section at the COAC’s website: www.coac.net

Opening hours

The BIArch’s administrative office is open Monday to Friday, from 8:00h to 14:00h and 15:00h to 17:00h. The office is closed on public holidays. The BIArch studio space is open 24 hours, every day of the week to all MBIArch students.