Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC Barcelona) hosted the start of the annual international conference of the Ibero-American Society of Digital Graphics (SIGraDi) which featured an opening lesson by Jordi Faulí, head architect of the Sagrada Família. The opening of the congress was attended by some 250 people, including members of the university community and academics and researchers from universities around the world. 

After the opening by Alberto T. Estévez, lecturer at UIC Barcelona and curator of SIGraDi 2024—this year he was sponsored by the Master in Biodigital Architecture at UIC Barcelona—Jordi Faulí gave an opening master class. 

The head architect of the Sagrada Familia took the participants through the different phases of the design and construction of the Sagrada Familia through a detailed explanation and the presentation of biodigital and genetic prototypes. “Our commitment is to follow Gaudí’s ideas. Each part built has been and will be a challenge,” said Faulí.

Faulí also used 3D models to analyse the current state of the tower of Jesus Christ, which he estimates will be completed by the end of 2025. Finally, he focused his lecture on the three façades of the Sagrada Familia: the Passion, the Nativity and the Glory. “Gaudí devised the façades not only to think about the life of Jesus but also so that those who contemplate them will think about theirs”, concluded Faulí.

On the first day, a round table discussion on research in the biodigital era and on natural and artificial intelligence was moderated by Neil Leach, British architect, theorist and lecturer at Florida International University, the European Graduate School and Tongji University. At the same time, throughout the day, different side rooms were set up where researchers in the biodigital field were able to present their papers.

The congress, which ended on Friday 15 November, featured two master classes by the renowned architects Marcos Cruz and Benedetta Tagliabue. Cruz is a lecturer of innovative environments at Bartlett University and co-director of Bio-ID, a multidisciplinary research platform and a master’s programme that investigates design driven by advances in biotechnology, computing, materials and manufacturing. Cruz’s research focuses specifically on integrated design in buildings. 

Benedetta Tagliabue is an internationally renowned architect and co-founder of the international studio EMBT Architects. Among her most outstanding works are the New Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh, the Santa Caterina Market, the Gas Natural Fenosa headquarters and the Diagonal Mar Park in Barcelona.

As part of the congress, two further round tables were held. One on teaching in the biodigital age, moderated by UIC Barcelona lecturer Yomna K. Abdallah, and a second one led by Rosa Cervera, lecturer at the University of Alcalá, on practices in a digital and biodigital world.

In the current edition, the Ibero-American Society of Digital Graphics (SIGraDi) has trusted UIC Barcelona to hold its annual congress, recognising its leadership in research and innovative teaching in architecture. Since 2000, UIC Barcelona has been a benchmark with its Master’s Degree in Biodigital Architecture, a pioneering programme that integrates biological and digital approaches to architecture and design. That same year, the university established the first global laboratory of genetic architecture and the first laboratory of digital architecture in Spain. This interdisciplinary programme counts on the collaboration of international experts in architecture, design, art, engineering, biology, genetics and philosophy.

During SIGraDi 2024, UIC Barcelona and its Master’s Degree in Biodigital Architecture presented a renewed vision on the relationship between nature and technology, natural and artificial intelligence, biolearning and machine learning, as well as the opportunities for biofabrication and digital manufacturing.