The future museum of the Lluís Coromina Foundation, a bird of paradise from Pla de l'Estany

MadridThe philanthropic work of businessman Lluís Coromina has two sides: one is related to the visual arts. The other, to nature. One of the spaces of his foundation, called La Perpinyana, is a temporary shelter for exotic birds. Therefore, the architect Josep Miàs He has drawn inspiration from one of these birds to design the future art center and museum of the Lluís Coromina Foundation in Porqueres (Pla de l'Estany). The project was presented this Thursday at the Arco art fair: construction is scheduled to begin next year, and the center is expected to open its doors in late 2029 or 2030.

"It's a project very much based on integration with the landscape," says Josep Miàs, who is also known for the headquarters of the Dress Palace at the Barcelona Trade Fair, the latter designed in collaboration with the Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. "What we're really doing is camouflaging galleries within the landscape," he explains. For the architect, born in Banyoles, the future museum will mark a return to his roots, as one of his best-known works is the redevelopment of Banyoles' old town.

Miàs also worked alongside Enric Miralles for years, and the project includes references to the colorful ceramic roof of Barcelona's Santa Caterina Market, although in the museum it seems the ceramics will coexist with some green roofs. The various pavilions will be made of glass, to enhance the dialogue between the galleries and the exterior. "We want the building's relationship with its surroundings to be as beautiful as that of the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark. It's not just about a building, but about the entire environment. We are very fortunate that it will be in the natural setting of Lake Banyoles, and opposite it we will have the church of Santa Maria de Porqueres, which is from the 21st century. Furthermore, the ruins of an early Christian necropolis are located in the area."

The project arose to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Lluís Coromina Foundation. "We believe now is a good time to further highlight the foundation's work," says the director, Ricard Planas. The site where the museum will be built covers four hectares, and the museum itself will occupy approximately 1,500 square meters. A further 1,500 square meters are planned for the future with the incorporation of the family's medieval farmhouse-castle into the project. In addition to Miàs, landscape architect Martirià Figueras and designer Andreu Carulla will also be working on the project. Currently, the foundation has five locations: Espai Eat Art, Puntal Lab, and Garage in Banyoles; La Perpinyana in Porqueres; and Isern Dalmau in Barcelona. The Lluís Coromina collection includes some 2,000 works, encompassing Old Masters, modern art, and contemporary pieces. The permanent exhibition is planned to be based on a dialogue between works from different periods, guided by shared "discursive lines," as explained by Planas, who will be advised by Josep Manuel Rueda, former director of the Catalan Cultural Heritage Agency, and Jusèp Boya, former director of the Museum of the History of Catalonia and the Museum of Archaeology. Among the artists represented in the collection are renowned names such as Jaume Plensa, Eugenio Ampudia, Salvador Dalí, Josep Ponsatí, and Bernardí Roig, and some of their works will be displayed in a sculpture garden surrounding the museum. "It will be a highly integrated project, like Chillida Leku, and the experience will also be based on the relationship between art and landscape," says Planas.