The dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Judith Urbano, and the professor of the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture, Alberto T. Estévez, have published the chapter “Back to the basics: Return to the origin, Gaudí and Nature” in the book entitled Green Energy and Infrastructure: Securing a Sustainable Future from CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group).

The chapter presents Gaudí as a pioneer of sustainability in architecture through various projects that reveal both the influence of and respect for nature in his work. According to Judith Urbano, “The observation of nature is fundamental for Gaudí, and goes beyond the inspiration of his contemporaries, which was more focused on decorative and ornamental elements. Gaudí applies this influence at a structural level in his work, with the revolution that this entailed, ahead of his time, including aspects such as recycling (so fashionable today) in his mosaic tiles.”