STUDIO
Fuses-Viader is an architecture studio established in Girona in 1980. It is run by Josep Fuses Comalada and Joan M. Viader Martí, who studied together at the Barcelona School of Architecture, where they graduated as architects in 1977. During their career, they have designed and built around a hundred buildings and public spaces in Catalonia, many of them commissioned by public institutions. Their work is characterized by a special attention to integration with the built or natural environment, respect for history and cultural tradition, and a conception of architecture as a collective discipline serving society. Their generation was probably the last to understand architecture as a profession in which the formal proposal of the project is as important as personal control of all stages of its construction and a close relationship with builders and clients. Architect Clara Viader has recently joined the studio. Beyond her usual professional practice dedicated to small and medium scale residential projects, her career has also been characterized by some notable commissions:
Renovation of the Historical Center of Girona
In the late 1970s, Girona's current old town was a marginal area of the city with many abandoned or dilapidated buildings. Joan M. Viader, who was familiar with this situation, suggested to Josep Fuses, then a fellow fifth-year student in the urban planning course taught by Manuel Ribas Piera, that they undertake an academic exercise to analyze the urban conditions of this historic center. Subsequently, their joint final degree project continued to explore this same subject. When the first democratic councils came to power in 1979, the newly appointed mayor of Girona, Joaquim Nadal, who was familiar with this work, made the comprehensive rehabilitation of the historic center one of his priority objectives. His first step was to commission a Special Plan for the Old Quarter from a team of architects consisting of Fuses-Viader, Arcadi Pla, and Jeroni Moner. The Plan was approved in 1983 and, as a result, the Department of Architecture of the Generalitat commissioned Fuses-Viader to carry out two of the first actions envisaged in the Plan: a social housing building on the site of the former convent of Les Beates and the rehabilitation of the group of houses on the right bank of the Onyar River. Subsequently, they also worked on other sites in the same neighborhood: the rectorate of the University of Girona, the restoration of the Cathedral and the Church of Sant Feliu, the restoration of the Municipal Market, and much later, the new building of the Generalitat of Catalonia in Girona.
Houses on the Onyar River
One of the first public actions planned in the Special Plan for the Historic Center and promoted by the Generalitat of Catalonia and the City Council was the renovation of the houses on the right bank of the Onyar. This was an ambitious architectural operation on a popular style of architecture that had traditionally been the image of the city. The Fuses-Viader project proposed the removal of added elements on the riverfront facades, the renovation of degraded roofs, the installation of indoor bathrooms in homes that did not have them, and the replastering and repainting of the façades in the traditional colors of the city's Old Quarter, which, due to decades of neglect, were barely visible and corresponded to a color palette very common in Mediterranean architecture. In a second phase, in 1986, work was planned on the houses on the left bank.
Public works in Catalonia since the 1980s
With the country's return to democracy, public institutions focused their activity on inherited deficits, mainly in the field of urban planning, but also on the provision of new open spaces, which most municipalities lacked. Public competitions allowed many teams of young architects to access this type of project. In 1984, Fuses-Viader won the open tender for the new Platja d’Aro sea promenade and were joint finalists in the tenders for the Parc de les Estacions in Palma de Mallorca and the Parc Catalunya in Sabadell (Barcelona). Subsequently, they also won the competitions for the promenades of beach of Sant Pol in S'agaró (Girona), La Fosca in Palamós, Passeig del Carme in Vilanova i la Geltrú, and the south facade of Manresa ( Barcelona). They were also directly commissioned to design the new promenade and Avenue Catalunya in Blanes.
1992 Olimpic Games
The Barcelona Olympic Games led to the urban renewal of the Poble Nou industrial area in Barcelona, but also, on a smaller scale, to the construction of the Olympic Village next to Lake Banyoles. The Fuses-Viader studio participated in the open competition for the fountain in Barcelona's Olympic Village (finalists), in the restricted competition for Carlos I Park in the same city, and in the proposal for one of the residential islands in the Olympic Village in Banyoles (winners). At the same time, they were commissioned to develop the new Mossèn Constans promenade providing access to the lake and the Puda promenade.
Participation in the restoration of three catalan symbolic monuments: in Barcelona, the city's Cathedral, and in Girona, the Cathedral and the Basilica of Sant Feliu.
During the first decade of the 21st century, the Fuses-Viader studio combined its usual work with participation, as part of multidisciplinary teams, in the restoration of different parts of these three important monuments of Catalan historical heritage. At Girona Cathedral, they drew up the Master Plan and worked on the restoration of the Baroque façade, the bell tower, and the north façade (1998-2006). At Barcelona Cathedral, they drew up the Master Plan and restored the Gothic façade on Carrer dels Comtes and the Sant Iu portal, the main façade and the reconstruction of the dome, neo-Gothic works by architects Oriol Mestres and Augusto Font respectively (2002-2012). Finally, at the Basilica of Sant Feliu in Girona, they restored the Baroque façade, the bell tower, and the interior central nave (2006-2009)..
Three unique projects
During the first two decades of the 20th century, they worked on three significant projects. The headquarters of the Generalitat in the city of Girona (2003-2010), the restoration of the fortress of Sant Julià de Ramis (Girona, 2003-20017) as a cultural center, and the new headquarters of the Palais de Justice in Paris (2006-2007).The headquarters of the Generalitat in Girona, with a surface area of 51,600 m², occupies the site of the former Santa Caterina hospital, located in the city center. Approximately half of the building is new, and the other half is a renovation of the pre-existing historic building, a 17th-century building built around an interesting central courtyard. It was the first experience in Catalonia of bringing together all the territorial services of a Generalitat district in a single building.
The renovation of the Sant Julià de Ramis fortress is a complex project that is refurbishing an unfinished 19th-century fort with a complicated layout, located at the top of the ancient Iberian settlement of early Girona, converted into a cultural center, and recently adapted as a gastronomic space by the well-known El Celler de Can Roca.
The new Palais de Justice in Paris was an international open competition launched by the French Ministry of Justice in 2006. It was located next to the Halles Freyssinet and the National Library in the Tolbiac district, and envisaged an ambitious program covering 95,000 m². The Fuses-Viader studio won first prize, but at a later stage, due to disagreements between the Ministry of Justice and the municipality, the project was scrapped.
Recent work
Commissioned to renovate the façade of the College of Architects of Catalonia in Plaça Nova in Barcelona (2014-2018), won through a competition in partnership with Jordi Mansilla and Jorge Perea, the studio began a one-off collaboration with these architects, with whom they have participated in two more competitions: the new Plaça de les Glòries in Barcelona (special mention) and the renovation of La Savinosa, a 1930s healthcare complex and children's home , surfaced 18000m2, located on the beach in Tarragona (first prize).
Currently, the studio focuses mainly on private projects, primarily in the residential sector. At the same time, it has reduced its participation in public competitions, motivated by their increasing bureaucratization and a change in the priorities of the awards, where architectural quality has been losing ground to factors unrelated to it.
Competitions, awards, and publications.
During its years of activity, the studio has participated in some thirty public architecture competitions, both open and restricted, with a total of 15 first prizes and 4 honorable mentions, the most notable of which are the headquarters of the Generalitat in Girona and the new Palace of Justice in Paris (Tolbiac).
Its work has been awarded the FAD Opinion Prize (1997) and an honorable mention in the FAD Awards (1995), and it has been selected as a finalist in several FAD Awards and received honorable mentions in the Spain National Urban Planning Awards (1983 and 1987). Girona County Awards, organized by the College of Architects (1997, 2000, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017), and finalists in the Spanish Architecture Biennials (1993, 1995, 2016).
Their work has been widely published in digital format in HIC, World Architects, Architizer, Archdaily, Architecture Lab, Archello, Dezeen, and various architecture and urban planning blogs, and in print in prestigious publications such as El Croquis, A+U, Topos, Quaderns, AVV, Área, DBZ, Abitare, Ottagono, Detail, The Architectural Review, C3, DA monographs, and On Diseño.
Team
Josep Fuses. Barcelona. 1954.
Architect from the Barcelona Technical School of Architecture (ETSAB), 1977.
Further studies in Rome (Accademia dei Lincei, 1980) and at the Architectural Association of London, 1984-85.
Phd in Architecture UPC, Barcelona 2011.
Professor of Contemporary Art at the University of Girona, 1996-2005.
Professor of Projects at the La Salle-URLL School of Architecture, Barcelona, 1998-2005.
Professor of Projects and Coordinator of Architectural Studies at the EPS-UdG since 2005 to 2021.
Joan M. Viader. Bescanó (Girona). 1953.
Architect from the Barcelona Technical School of Architecture (ETSAB), 1977.
International Architecture Seminar in Santiago de Compostela directed by Aldo Rossi, 1976 and International Course on Palladio in Vicenza, 1979.
Master in Landscape Architecture from ETSAB, 1984-1986.
Professor at the “Sommer Akademie” in Herne (Rhineland-Westphalia) by the IBA of the Rhurgebiet,1989.
Professor of the Final Project Unit (2002-2005) at ETSAB-UPC.
Member of the Final Project Tribunals since 2002 at ETSAB-UPC.
Secretary: Pilar Arbonès.
Consultors :
Estructures: Blázquez-Guanter SLP, arquitectes
Facilities: Teodor Pulido, enginyer industrial
They have worked with us:
M. Loreto Negre, Assumpció Puig, Àngel Madrià, Lluís Guanter, Jordi Darder, Josep Mariné, Elisabeth Pascual, Francesca Amat,
Dolors Bosch, Marta Bacquelaine, Clara Ximenez, Eva Garrido, Ramon Saguè, Josep Pla, Stefan Baumgart, Ursula Pasch, Tomàs Gratacós,
Carme Riu, Joaquim Roura, Thomas Wissing, Jaume Frigola, Josep Mª Blázquez, Khaterin Bissping, Ricard Turon, Anna Dharma Pinós,
Adelina Leira, Rute Carlos, Nora Vorderwinkler, Olga Muñoz, Maria Frigola, Núria Martín, Jost Deswald, Fanny Rodríguez, Carles Bohigas,
Bernat Llauradó, Marc Riera, M.Teresa Solà, Carme Vich, Cristina Bech, Santi Vila, Clàudia Rosa, Nara Llapart, Joel Padrosa, Silvina Mayer, Jordi Grau,
Jordi Serra, Carla Arruebo, Josep Ribes, Carme Aguayo, Arnau Sempere, Francesc Baquer, Ariadna Serrano, Jordina Freixes, Albert Font,
Alan Thompson, Lluís Marimont, Carles Suárez Kilzi.
Have collaborated with us:
Facilities
Grau-del Pozo, enginyers
David Marés, arquitecte
Amaya Arizmendi, arquitecta
Xavier Arnal, enginyer tècnic
PGI Engineering & Consulting
Civil engineers
Joan Rull
Sergi Pasarín
Pilar Valentí
Josep M. Recarens
Jaume Vila
Sonia Vergés
Ingrid Artigas
Francesc Prats
Ramon Roig
Joan Ardèvol
Francesc Rodríguez
Jesús Bassols
Infographics
PlayTime
Javi Ortega
Jorge Suárez Kilzi
Alejandro Caballero
photographers
Hisao Suzuki
Ferran Freixa
Duccio Malagamba
Pep Sau
Josep Mª Torra
Carles S. Kilzi
MAIN WORKS
HOUSE IN MATADEPERA (Barcelona) / single-family house with garden, 2025 - ongoing. With Clara Viader. Assistant: Carla Lladó.
RENOVATION OF THE MACAO HOUSE in FIGUERES (Girona) / Multi-family building from 1907 by Josep Azemar, renovated as a residential building and commercial premises, 2023 - ongoing. With Clara Viader. Assistant: Clara Lladó.
EXTENSION PROJECT FOR THE CULTURAL CENTER OF THE CASTELL DE SANT JULIÀ DE RAMIS, (Girona) /. Refurbishment of the ground floor of the complex as a new restaurant for El Celler de Can Roca, 2023.
HOUSING IN GIRONA / Multi-family building with 8 apartments on Carrer Pedret, 2022- ongoing. With Clara Viader. Assistant: Clara Lladó.
HOUSE IN SANT DALMAI (Vilobí d'Onyar- Girona) / Single-family house with garden, 2022-2025. Assistants: Carles Suárez-Kilzi, Clara Viader.
PROJECT IN THE MONTGÓ TOWER AND SURROUNDINGS, L' ESCALA (Girona) / Landscaping and construction of a café-viewpoint overlooking the Roses golf course at Punta Montgó, 2020. With Jordi Paulí. Assistant: Carles Suárez-Kilzi.
PROPOSAL FOR GLOBAL INTERVENTION IN THE FORMER PREVENTORI DE LA SAVINOSA, TARRAGONA / Complex of buildings constructed by Francesc Monravà between 1929 and 1932 on a 77,000 m² plot facing the sea, intended for healthcare and children's residences, 2016-2019. With Jordi Mansilla and Jorge Perea.
RENOVATION OF THE FACADE OF THE COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTS OF CATALONIA IN BARCELONA/ Renovation, environmental and energy improvement of the facades of the building constructed between 1958 and 1962 by Xavier Busquets, 2014-2018. With Jordi Mansilla and Jorge Perea. Assistants: Joel Padrosa, Santi Vila.
CASTELL SANT JULIÀ DE RAMIS / Cultural center and hotel in the old fortress of Sant Julià de Ramis. Preliminary studies, 2001-2010. Construction, 2013-2017. Assistants: Carla Arruebo, Jordi Serra.
RENOVATION OF MEDIEVAL BUILDING IN GIRONA / Renovation project for three homes on Pujada del Rei Marti in Girona, 2011-2018. With Montse Nogués. Assistants: Joel Padrosa, Júlia Pérez.
HOUSE IN NAVATA (Girona) / Single-family house with garden in the Torremirona residential area, 2013-2015. Assistants: Carla Arruebo, Jordi Serra.
SPORTS CENTER AT THE CALDES GOLF CLUB / Sports center and residents' club at the PGA Golf Club in Caldes de Malavella (Girona), 2010-2013. Asssitants: Carla Arruebo, Josep Ribes, Jordi Serra.
HOUSING IN GIRONA / Multi-family building with 41 homes in Girona, on Bernat Boades Street, 2010-2021.
HOUSING IN PERATALLADA (Girona) / Urban development plan for Les Hortes neighborhood and construction of 2 semi-detached houses, 2010-2023. Assistant: Jordi Serra.
RENOVATION OF AN AGRICULTURAL BUILDING FOR RESIDENTIAL USE IN LES PRESES (Girona) / Renovation of a unique rural building with a large arch in the town center of Les Preses, 2010-2011. Assistants: Carla Arruebo, Jordi Serra.
FACULTY OF TOURISM IN GIRONA / Project for the new Faculty of Tourism on the Montilivi Campus of the University of Girona, 2008-2009. Assistants: Carla Arruebo, Silvina Mayer, Jordi Serra.
ALFOLÍ DE LA SAL IN L'ESCALA (Girona) / Renovation of the building as a cultural center and museum of the town's history, 2008-2017. With Jordi Paulí. Assistant: Carla Arruebo.
SANT FELIU DE GUÍXOLS YACHT CLUB / 2007-2008. Assistant: Josep Ribes, Teresa Solà.
RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH OF ST. VICENÇ DE VILAMALLA (Girona) / Refurbishment of the surroundings and restoration of the parish church, 2006-2013. Assistants: Carla Arruebo, Jordi Serra.
RESTORATION OF THE BASILICA OF SANT FELIU IN GIRONA / Renovation of the bell tower, 2006-2008; of the Baroque façade and interior, 2008-2009. With Jordi Paulí.
RESIDENTIAL AREA IN SECTOR "F" OF THE CALDES DE MALAVELLA GOLF COURSE / 2006. Colab: Marc Riera.
EMPÚRIES MUSEUM, L'ESCALA (Girona) / Visitor center for the ruins of Empúries, 2006-2015. Assistant: Carla Arruebo, Jordi Serra.
COURT HOUSE IN PARIS / First Prize in the Ideas Competition for the New Court House in Paris in the Tolbiac neighborhood next to the former Halles Freyssinet and the National Library, 2006-2007. Assistant: Carla Arruebo.
HOUSE IN CALA DE SES TORRETES, CALONGE / 1,800 m² single-family home at the southern end of the former Cala Gogo, 2006-2011. With Montse Nogués. Asssitants: Carla Arruebo, Arnau Sampere, Jordi Serra.
SEU DE LA GENERALITAT IN GIRONA / Administrative offices of the Generalitat of Catalonia on the former site of the Baroque Hospital of Santa Caterina in the city center, 2003-2010. Assistants: Fanny Rodríguez, Santi Vila, Josep Ribes, Núria Martin, Carme Vich, Jost Dewald.
RESTORATION OF BARCELONA CATHEDRAL / Master plan, 2001-2002; Puerta Sant Iu, 2003; Comtes Street façade, 2007; Main façade, 2007; Dome, 2009-2010; Bell tower, 2013. With Mercè Zazurca.
HOUSING IN S'AGARÓ (Girona) / Project for a multi-family building with 22 homes on Carrer Selva in Castell-Platja d'Aro-S'Agaró, 2007. Assistants: Cristina Bech, Nuria Martín, Jordi Serra.
HOUSING IN S'AGARÓ (Girona) / Two multi-family buildings with a total of 17 homes in the U.A., S.11 San Pol, Castell-Platja d'Aro-S'agaró. 2003-2005. Assistants: Fanny Rodríguez, Nuria Martín.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SEAFRONT IN VILANOVA I LA GELTRÚ / Preliminary development project for Passeig del Carme, between Parc de Ribes Roges and the eastern breakwater, 2001. Assistant: Maria Frigola.
PLAZA DE LA REFORMA / Urban development project for the Plaça de la Reforma, underground parking and adaptation of the staircase on the main façade of the Manresa Headquarters, 2001-2011. Assistants: Carla Arruebo, Silvina Mayer, Josep Ribes, Jordi Serra, Ricard Turón.
SPECIAL PLAN FOR PASSEIG NORT IN REUS / Urban proposal between the Institut Pere Mata road and Castellvell avenue, 2000-2001. Assistant: Maria Frigola.
HOUSING IN GIRONA / Multi-family building project at Carrer Hortes 20, in the Old Quarter of the city, 1999-2000. With Meritxell Fontclara.
SPECIAL PLAN FOR THE PORT OF PALAMÓS / Proposal for the urbanization and uses of the port and promenade of Palamós from the Yacht Club to Plaça Murada, 1999-2000. Assistant: Olga Muñoz.
RESTORATION OF GIRONA CATHEDRAL / Master Plan, 1998-2000; Baroque façade, 2000-2001; Romanesque cloister surroundings project, 2002; north façade, stained glass windows, and bell tower, 2006. In collaboration with Paulí-Pla/Arquitectes and Montse Nogués, architect.
HOUSING IN GIRONA / Project for six triplex houses between party walls on Reggio Emilia Street, at the southern entrance to the city, 1998-2001. Assistant: Olga Muñoz.
HOUSING IN THE HISTORIC CENTER OF BARCELONA / Project for 12 social housing units and commercial premises on Avinguda Cambó, within the scope of the Santa Caterina Market Special Plan, 1998-2000. Asssitants: Maria Frigola, Olga Muñoz.
CAN QUINTANA MUSEUM IN TORROELLA DE MONTGRÍ (Girona) / Cultural Center and Museum of the Mediterranean in the former Can Quintana palace, 1998-2000. Asssitants: Maria Frigola, Olga Muñoz, Ricard Turón.
HOUSE IN MATADEPERA, (Barcelona) / Single-family house with garden, 1997-1998. Assistant: Ricard Turón.
LES ÀLIGUES GARDENS IN GIRONA / Landscaping of the outdoor space between the Les Àligues building, the medieval wall, and the convent of San Domènec, 1997-1998. Asssitant: Ricard Turón.
LA FOSCA PROMENADE IN PALAMÓS / Development of the promenade along La Fosca cove and the coastal path to the castle of San Esteve, 1995-1996. Assistant: Jaume Frigola.
DEVELOPMENT OF PLAÇA CATALUÑA IN GIRONA / New paving and lighting in the eastern part of the square with a large staircase that bridges the gap between it and Carrer Albareda, 1995-1999. Assistant: Ricard Turón.
PRIMARY CARE CENTER IN TORROELLA DE MONTGRÍ / Carrer Dr. Molinas, 1995-1999. Assistants: Jaume Frigola, Ricard Turón.
BLANES PROMENADE / Development of the town's seafront from Sa Palomera to the port, and construction of an underground car park, 1994-1996. Assistant: Jaume Frigola.
MULTI-PURPOSE SPORTS HALL IN FLAÇÀ (Girona) / 1994-1997. Assistants: Jaume Frigola, Ricard Turón
FACULTY OF SCIENCES IN GIRONA / Classroom and laboratory building for the Faculty of Experimental Sciences at the University of Girona, 1992-1997. Assistant: Khaterin Bissping.
GIRONA MUNICIPAL MARKET / Complete renovation of the market built by Ricard Giralt in 1944, with the construction of a new copper roof, 1991-1993. Assistant: Josep Mª. Blázquez.
SALOU PROMENADE / Special Plan for the promenade, marina, and coastal paths of Salou( Tarragona), 1990. Assistant: Josep Mª. Blázquez.
PAVING AND LIGHTING OF THE HISTORICAL CENTER OF MONELLS (Girona), 1989-1993. Assistants: Josep Mariné, Thomas Wissing.
HOUSING IN FONTAJAU (Girona) / Residential building with 30 social housing units in the Fontajau neighborhood for the Provincial Housing Board, 1989-1992. Assistants: Ramón Sagué, Carme Riu.
RENOVATION OF "LES VOLTES" IN LA BISBAL D'EMPORDÀ (Girona)/ Work on the exterior (paving, arcades, and facades) and construction of a new interior ceiling, 1989-1990. Assistants: Josep Mariné, Elisabeth Pascual.
HOUSING IN THE VILA OLÍMPICA DE BANYOLES / Residential building with 10 duplexes and 10 single-story homes around an interior courtyard, 1989-1992. Assistants: Josep Marinè, Elisabeth Pascual.
LLUÍS COMPANYS HIGH SCHOOL IN TORDERA (Girona) / 1989-1992. Assistant: Carme Riu.
CALA SANT POL PROMENADE (Girona) / Project for the Cala Sant Pol promenade and park in Sant Feliu de Guíxols (Costa Brava) and construction of the southern section, 1987-1994.
HOUSES IN LES PLANES D'HOSTOLES (Girona) / Five terraced houses on Carrer dels Remences, in Les Planes d'Hostoles (Garrotxa), 1986-1987.
RENOVATION OF BLANES TOWN HALL / Project to renovate the existing building and extend it over the Terrassans casino, 1986-1988. Assistant: Carme Riu.
RESTORATION OF THE CASTLE OF ST. JOAN IN BLANES (Girona) / Landscaping and restoration of the remains of the old castle and medieval tower, 1986-1987.
RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH OF BESCANÓ (Girona) / Renovation of the main façade of the parish church and paving of its surroundings, 1986-1987.
LES ÀLIGUES BUILDING IN THE HISTORIC CENTER OF GIRONA / Rector's office and administrative services of the University of Girona in the Les Àligues building, with a courtyard with three façades from the 16th-17th centuries and a newly constructed façade that closes off the original courtyard, 1986-1993. Assistant: Jordi Darder.
PLATJA D'ARO PROMENADE (Girona) / Development of the Platja d'Aro promenade, 1.6 km long between Cavall Bernat and the Ridaura River, 1984-1988. Assistants: Josep Mª Mariné, Elisabeth Pascual.
RIU ONYAR HOUSES IN GIRONA / Restoration of 83 houses on the Onyar River in Girona, 1983-1985.
HOUSING IN THE FORMER CONVENT OF LES BEATES, IN THE HISTORIC CENTER OF GIRONA / 18 new social housing units and offices around an interior courtyard, 1983-1985.
SPECIAL PLAN FOR THE HISTORIC CENTER OF GIRONA / Special plan for the rehabilitation of the historic center of the city of Girona. With Arcadi Pla and Jeroni Moner architects, 1981-1983. Assistants: M. Loreto Negre, Assumpció Puig.
MOSAIC
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