Eloquence and symbolism, an architectural language of Jujol

Abstract

Casa Bofarull, designed by Josep Maria Jujol during the first third of the 20th century –particularly throughout its second decade– is mark ed by an orderl y arr angement of geometric for ms distributed across its architectural spaces. This composition suggests an intentional design strategy that tran-scends meredecoration and points to a symbolic language potentially linked to the identity of the place and its memory. Jujol’s architecture is widely recognized for embedding a precise and creative verbal narrative, so-metimes explicit and at other times more implicit, though it is not alwa ys clear whether his design decisions stem from a single, fixed interpretative intention. This research offer s an analytical reading of these geometric for ms in Casa Bofarull, aiming to com-pare and contrast their presence and arr angement in order to assess the extent to which they result from a deliberate design intention. It argues that, through symbolic use of geometry, the architect constructs a visual discourse that conv eys the site’s idiosyncrasy and integrates the house into the life and collective imagination of its setting.

Peer Reviewed

Postprint (published version)