The first major retrospective of the complete works of José María García Paredes, a key figure in modern Spanish architecture during the second half of the 20th century, is available from October 2 to January 12, 2025.

‘José María García de Paredes: Meeting Spaces’ offers an extensive overview of four decades of his professional career in architecture, from 1950 to 1990. Curated by architect Ángela García de Paredes, the exhibition is organized by the ICO Foundation in collaboration with the Reina Sofia National Museum Art Center, which catalogued the García Paredes Archive in 2021, donated by the architect’s family.

Practical info

‘José María García de Paredes: Meeting Spaces’
October 2 – January 12, 2025
ICO Museum
C/ Zorrilla, 3, Madrid
Spain

His work stands out for its functionalist approach and refined aesthetics, featuring iconic projects influenced by both past and future architecture. His career includes projects related to music, such as the National Music Auditorium and the Manuel de Falla Auditorium, as well as church designs that address both mystical character and social gathering function, always addressing society’s needs with modern architectural solutions.

The exhibition explores the rich cultural, architectural, and artistic landscape that García Paredes was a part of through photographs, blueprints, models, letters, and drawings. It is divided into six sections: Early Encounters, Musical Encounters, Spiritual Encounters, Encounters with Craft, Encounters with History, and Melomaniac Encounters, which collect and display some of the architect’s most significant works, such as pieces inspired by musician Manuel de Falla, creations related to painter Miguel Rodríguez-Acosta in Granada, and the design of the urn and exhibition for Pablo Picasso’s Guernica upon its arrival in Spain at the Casón del Buen Retiro in Madrid.

García Paredes became a renowned architect within the modern movement. He played an important role in renewing certain architectural forms and types during the second half of the 20th century, combining international modernity with Spanish construction traditions in a respectful approach that paid attention to its surroundings. Some of his projects have been awarded the Grand Prix de Rome (1995), the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts (1990), and, together with Rafael de la Hoz, the National Architecture Award (1956).

The ICO Foundation accompanies the exhibition with the catalogue José María Paredes. Spaces of Encounter, published in collaboration with Arquitectura Viva. This catalogue brings together images of his works along with texts that delve into the figure of the architect from a transversal and international perspective. The texts are available in both Spanish and English, priced at 30 euros, and can be found at the ICO Museum and bookstores across Spain.