Enric Miralles

Enric Miralles was much more than a Catalan architect. He was a visionary who, with every stroke and every structure, reinvented the way we inhabit the world. His legacy – innovative, poetic and profoundly human – continues to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration in contemporary architecture.

Graduated from ETSAB in 1974, his career took off meteorically. From his beginnings as an assistant to Albert Viaplana and Helio Piñón, Miralles immersed himself in the soul of Barcelona, collaborating in works that today form part of its urban identity, such as the emblematic Plaza de Sants.

In 1983 he marked a new chapter: he founded his first studio with Carme Pinós. At that stage, his architectural language began to define itself strongly: tangent curves, asymmetrical structures, steel and concrete that were transformed into visual poetry. Works such as Tiro con Arco or the Igualada Cemetery were not only constructions, but also manifestations of spatial sensitivity.

The 1990s was his period of greatest creative maturity. Hand in hand with his partner Benedetta Tagliabue, Enric reached an unprecedented artistic depth. Together they founded EMBT Architects, a studio where every project is a game, a challenge, an exploration. Together, the two architects subtly incorporated color, matter and cultural context, giving life to works such as the Santa Caterina Market, the Scottish Parliament or the ethereal Meditation Pavilion in Unazuki.

Despite her early departure in 2000, her legacy remains more alive than ever. Thanks to Benedetta’s drive, EMBT continues to be a beacon of creativity, keeping the passion and shared vision alive.

Enric Miralles was a creator of habitable sculptures, conceptual collages, transformative ideas. His unrepeatable style – exuberant, playful, profoundly free – left an indelible mark in Europe, Asia and in the hearts of those who love architecture with soul.