The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) is pleased to share that on Saturday, November 30th, the MUHBA Vil·la Joana officially inaugurated the exhibition “Valldaura, 1150-2025: A Story of Monks, Kings, Nobles, Industrialists, and Researchers”. Curated by IAAC founder Vicente Guallart and economist and historian Robert Álvarez, the exhibition explores the centuries-long transformation of Valldaura, whose succession of owners is intricately linked to Catalonia’s history, reflecting shifts in governance and land management over time.

Originally the site of Catalonia’s first Cistercian monastery, founded in 1150, it became the cradle of the Cistercian order until 1169, when the monks moved to Santes Creus. By the 13th century, it had evolved into a royal estate, serving as a hunting lodge and palace for the kings of the Crown of Aragon, including Jaume II and Martí l’Humà. In the 16th century, ownership passed to a family of jurists who later became nobility, maintaining Valldaura as an independent entity until 1836, when it was annexed to Cerdanyola. In 1888, a new farmhouse was built on the site, and in 2008, IAAC acquired Valldaura to transform it into a leading research center for advanced ecological buildings and architectural innovation.

The exhibition also highlights findings from archaeological excavations currently underway at Valldaura, led by the University of Barcelona with support from the Generalitat de Catalunya. This project emphasizes Valldaura’s significance as a reflection of Catalonia’s evolution and its relationship with territory, power, and resource management over nearly nine centuries.

Additionally, on Wednesday, December 4th, coinciding with the anniversary of Valldaura’s founding, a book chronicling its history will be presented at the Martí l’Humà Hall in the MUHBA at Plaça del Rei. Published by Actar, this work is the culmination of over 15 years of research by Guallart and Álvarez. Read More.