The modernist gardens of the former Sant Boi de Llobregat asylum, built between 1903 and 1912, and forgotten for more than 100 years by historiography, contain architecture that anticipates or is contemporary with Gaudí’s last great works, thus formalizing the hyperbolic structures of the Sagrada Família (1915-1921), the serpentine bench of Park Güell (1910-1914), formal aspects of Casa Milà (1906-1912) and architectural compositions of the Güell colony (1908-1914) and Casa Batlló (1904-1906).

This construction, which had no determined authorship for more than a century, was built with the participation, as laborers, of the patients of the hospital center.  This garden, full of symbolism from the text of the Apocalypse of Saint John, and dedicated to the Virgin of Lourdes, is in tune with the architectural and spiritual universe of Antoni Gaudí. The thought of Jacint Verdaguer, personally and ideologically linked to Gaudí, is also present in this enigmatic space.

The exhibition “The Invisible Garden of Gaudí” has been curated by the architect David Agulló Galilea. He is the author of the doctoral thesis, directed by the architect Juan José Lahuerta, “Gaudí and the Gardens of the Old Asylum of Sant Boi de Llobregat”, where he argues and makes it clear that this modernist garden is an unpublished work by the brilliant architect Antoni Gaudí.

David Agulló Galilea, PhD in architecture from ETSAB. Author of the doctoral thesis “Gaudí and the gardens of the old asylum of Sant Boi de Llobregat”, qualified with a Cum Laude. Works in the field of rehabilitation, housing, and museography collaborating for the company Quod i Enginyeria Cultural in the following projects: Museum of the History of Catalonia, House of the History of the Archaeological Park of Elviña, and the Center for Interpretation of Al-Andalus, in San Fernando. Currently directing, together with Josep Pratdesaba, Vicenç Font and Anicet Matamala, the restoration of the modernist complex of the old psychiatric hospital of Sant Boi de Llobregat.

The exhibition “The Invisible Garden of Gaudí” was shown during the period June 2024-June 2025 at the MNACTEC museum in Terrassa.

Inauguration on October 2, at 7:30 p.m., in the COAC Tarragona auditorium.

#COACTarragona