Gaudi Exhibition "Windows Open to the Future" Now Open! Free Exhibition Details and Highlights

Centenary of Gaudi's Death: "Windows Open to the Future" Exhibition Held in Tokyo! Its Charm and Highlights

Antoni Gaudí was a peerless architect born in Barcelona, Spain. In commemoration of 2026, the centenary of his death, a special exhibition focusing on "windows"—a crucial element in Gaudí's architecture—titled "Gaudí: Windows Open to the Future" is being held at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3 in Akasaka, Tokyo. The exhibition runs until Sunday, July 12, 2026, and admission is free.

Gaudí, who designed numerous World Heritage sites including the Sagrada Família, incorporated natural forms into his architecture. Based on the results of joint research on windows in Gaudí's architecture that YKK AP has conducted over many years, this exhibition is a groundbreaking attempt to unravel his creative philosophy through original doors and windows, models, and videos. In this article, we will cover Gaudí's life, his representative architecture, his deep connection with Japan, the exhibition's highlights, and access information.

About Antoni Gaudí: A Legendary Architect Who Took Nature as His Master

Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) was born in Reus, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia. Born into a family of coppersmiths, he possessed excellent three-dimensional spatial perception from childhood. Due to his frail health, he spent a lot of time observing nature. Believing that "all beautiful forms exist in nature," he geometrically interpreted branching trees, spiral shells, and undulating caves to establish his unique architectural theory (organic architecture).

After graduating from the Barcelona School of Architecture, he met the wealthy Eusebi Güell, who became his lifelong, powerful patron. Many of Gaudí's experimental masterpieces, including Palau Güell, Park Güell, and the Church of Colònia Güell, were born from his collaboration with Güell. In his later years, Gaudí devoted all his energy to the construction of his masterpiece, the Sagrada Família, living in a temporary shack on site to continue working. However, on June 7, 1926, he passed away at the age of 73 following a tragic accident in which he was struck by a tram.

World Treasures Left by Gaudí: Masterpiece Architectures

Among Gaudí's architectural works, seven are registered as UNESCO World Heritage sites under the name "Works of Antoni Gaudí." Here, we introduce some of his masterpieces that are deeply related to the design of "windows" featured in this exhibition.

1. Sagrada Família (Church of the Holy Family)

This cathedral is synonymous with Gaudí. Construction has been ongoing for over 140 years since it began, and the pace has accelerated with the goal of completion in 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death. Inside the church, richly colored stained glass windows are positioned so that the incoming light illuminates the spaces between the forest-like columns, creating a sacred and mystical space.

2. Palau Güell

In this early masterpiece, ingenious techniques are employed to bring exquisite light into the limited site. A parabolic dome is suspended above the central salon, and starlight-like light filtering through small windows envelops the entire salon. Gaudí's pioneering approach to "light and space" is condensed here.

3. Casa Batlló and Casa Milà

Casa Batlló is themed around the ocean, controlling the entry of light through window sizes and stained glass gradients. Casa Milà (La Pedrera) boasts a wavy exterior resembling a stone quarry, precisely calculated to allow natural lighting and ventilation through windows that connect all courtyards to each room.

The Bond Between Japan and Gaudí: A History of Inherited Research

There is a deep history to the introduction of Gaudí in Japan. It began during the Taisho and early Showa periods when Kenji Imai, a professor at Waseda University, personally experienced Gaudí's architecture in Europe and introduced its wonders to Japan. Imai also incorporated Gaudí's influence into his own architectural works. In addition, Hiroya Tanaka, a measured drawing researcher, spent many years in Barcelona, drawing a vast number of hand-drawn measured diagrams of Gaudí's architecture and unraveling the mystery of its geometry, earning high acclaim worldwide.

The Window Research Institute of YKK AP, the organizer of this exhibition, has also followed this lineage, conducting professional joint research on the functional and design roles of "windows" in Gaudí's architecture. Modern Japanese creators, including architect Kengo Kuma, continue to draw inspiration from Gaudí's design philosophy that closely aligns with nature, and interviews with them are featured in the exhibition's documentary video.

Highlights of the Special Exhibition "Gaudí: Windows Open to the Future"

At the Tokyo exhibition (21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3), the layout is designed to allow visitors to visually and intuitively experience how "windows" in Gaudí's architecture served not merely as openings to look outside, but as interfaces that bring in light and wind, connecting humans and nature.

Full-scale Parts and Model Exhibits

Original fittings, complex stained glass, and window mock-ups are on display. There are also replicas of handles that visitors can touch and move, allowing them to directly experience craftsmanship and Gaudí's ergonomic philosophy.

Precise Drawings and Research Materials

Measured drawings regarding window details made to date and detailed research results by experts are presented in an easy-to-understand manner through panels and drawings.

Documentary Video

In addition to powerful footage filmed on-site in Barcelona, interviews regarding Gaudí's influence on the contemporary architectural world are screened.

How to Access the Venue

The venue, "21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3," is located in Midtown Garden within Tokyo Midtown (9-7-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo).

Toei Oedo Line: 5-minute walk from "Roppongi Station" Exit 8

Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line: Direct underground connection or 5-minute walk from "Roppongi Station" Exit 4a

Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line: 3-minute walk from "Nogizaka Station" Exit 3

Conclusion: Design and Philosophy Echoing Across 100 Years

The windows for "light" and "ventilation" that Antoni Gaudí continuously explored in Barcelona echo deeply with the philosophy of modern ecological and sustainable architecture. This is a precious opportunity to experience the "clues to opening the future" left by him after 100 years, inside a modern design space in Akasaka, Tokyo. As the exhibition runs until Sunday, July 12, why not pay a visit?

【Sources】

1. 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Exhibition Details Page
2. YKK AP News Release (English/Global Version)
3. Kengo Kuma & Associates News Release