The pavilion that will represent Catalonia was commissioned by Josep Torrents, ESARQ professor Guillem Carabí, and Jordi Ribas Boldú. The project was selected by a judging panel through a public competition held by the Ramon Llull Institute.

The exhibition “Grafting Architecture: Catalonia at Venice” seeks to address the paradigm shift taking place in contemporary Catalan architecture, and includes examples of methods that have the capacity to update a living tradition and project it towards the future. It will be unveiled on Thursday, 5 June 2014, at the Cantieri Navali, Castello, 40, as part of the Collateral Events at the 14th Venice Biennale of Architecture.

The Catalan pavilion at Venice is being organized by the Ramon Llull Institute and aims to recognize, appreciate and reformulate the specific characteristics of local architecture in contrast with the global franchised architecture that has dominated in recent years. The starting point is the Casa Bofarull (1913-1933), one of the key works of Josep Maria Jujol (1879-1949) and one of Carabí's research areas.

According to Carabí, Jujol's work reflects an attitude that can be traced through numerous projects built in the last century and is based on an intensive dialogue with pre-existing physical and spiritual features that make it possible to create a project that incorporates and blends new and existing elements, much like how shoots are grafted to a tree.

The Casa Bofarull will allow viewers to explore a timeless architectural approach. Accompanying it will be IES La Llauna in Badalona (1984-1986, Carme Pinós and Enric Miralles), the Espai La Lira in Ripoll (2004-2011, RCR Architects and Joan Puigcorbé), and the visitors’ centre for the megalithic tumulus/dolmen in Seró (2007-2013, Toni Gironès), projects removed in time but close in many ways.