The exhibition 'In the shelter of Park Güell' is being held to commemorate the park's centenary as a public space, the Year of Gaudí, and the World Capital of Architecture. Located in the Plaza de la Natura, beneath a large pergola, the display features photographs from institutional archives, renowned photographers, and private collections, with significant contributions from workshops held with local associations.
The exhibition is curated by Marina Cervera Alonso de Medina and poses the question: how can we celebrate the past while looking towards the future? It aims to understand heritage not only as something we preserve but also as something that embraces us, connects us, and contributes to building a collective memory.
Three perspectives on Park Güell
The exhibition presents three perspectives that converge on the idea of the park as a refuge:
The unseen heritage
This perspective delves into the park's underground and organic heritage, which includes caves, cisterns, mines, and canopies—elements often overlooked that reveal the complexity of the park beyond its most recognised architecture.
The shared memory
This section recovers a hundred years of public and private life in the park through photographs depicting everyday scenes and shared moments, such as first steps, communions, snowfalls, concerts, celebrations, and school excursions. It emphasises Park Güell as a space for gathering, coexistence, and shared identity.
The future outlook
The final perspective projects into the year 2126 through a hundred texts in postcard format. Fifty of these reflect the thoughts of local residents, institutions, and experts invited to imagine what the park will be like in a century. The remaining fifty quotes historical figures such as Antoni Gaudí, Eusebi Güell, and Josep Maria Jujol, exploring the ideas and visions that shaped the park and engaging them in dialogue with its future.
All three perspectives converge on the concept of Park Güell as a refuge—an inclusive space that preserves unseen heritage, holds the memories of those who have experienced it, and opens pathways for future considerations.
The arch-shaped pergola that houses the exhibition evokes the catenary arches Gaudí incorporated into various projects, such as the garden of the Gaudí House Museum and Casa Batlló. The exhibition will be open to visitors in the Plaza de la Natura from Saturday, 7 November, until spring 2027.
