Gaud's legacy of Professor Bassegoda already has a destination
In a telephone conversation with Joan Bassegoda, he has fully confirmed the news of the donation of all its editorial and documentary collection to the city of Reus to keep alive the flame of Gaud forever. What has given him a great satisfaction and joy as it was uncertain the destiny of such important documents gathered during all his life. It is the most important particular collection of books and papers of the architect of the world Reus.
Reus has already the world's most important particular archive about life and work of Antoni Gaud. This has been possible thanks to the sale by its owner, the honorary director of the Catedra Gaudi, the architect and historian Joan Bassegoda i Nonell, who earlier this year reached a verbal agreement with former Mayor, Llus Miquel Prez, that now should be gathered in a contract between Joan Bassegoda and the City Council Reus.
Pending this assignment contract is drafted and signed, the collection is already in the capital of Baix Camp, where a technique of Xavier Amors Central Library is documenting and cataloging it.
Joan Bassegoda himself explained yesterday the newspaper that "the collection has 15,000 books, 6,000 of whom are in Reus. The rest I have given in to the Gaud Chair. There are books on architecture, gardening, etc. But always related to the work of Gaud." Two key people for ending with this collection at the capital of the Baix Camp have been the builder Antoni Sent and Francesc Riera, owner of Gaudinian bench that since some months ago is shown in the Gaud Centre. Both contacted Bassegoda following the discovery of this bench and managed to persuade him to cede his legacy to the city of Reus.
One goal is that this bibliographic and documentary legacy may have an utility. Therefore, Bassegoda is scheduled to meet today with the director of the Escola Superior d'Arquitectura de Reus, Josep Bertran, so that "students can see this legacy as needed," says the owner of a collection which also has with furniture, paintings and photographs, among which there are a large number of slides that should be scanned. Bassegoda not afraid to admit that "it is the largest personal collection on the world's about Gaud. In fact, it is what has helped me to publish some thirty books on the great architect."
One of the questions still unresolved is where will stay the collection. The councilman of Culture, Joaquim Sorio, says "not known yet. First we have to catalog it all and then we'll see." Sorio values the news of the transfer of this legacy as "very important for our city."
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GaudiNews Summer 2011
We published the GaudiNews summer. It is very interesting read to keep up with everything related to the architect Antonio Gaud and his works.
Click here for the latest issue of the journal GaudiNews.
Fire at the Sagrada Familia
A victimless fire at the Sagrada Familia could have been much worse in one of most tense days in recent years. A little after 10:30 in the morning, a 65 year old man, Jos Mara L.S., carrying a number of lighters and an oil spray, entered the Naixement vestry of the crypt in which the remains of Gaud lie.
The terrible smoke produces required the evacuation of 1500 tourists who had been inside at the time and led to the closure of the basilica. The man was arrested and the basilica reopened later that afternoon as if nothing had happened.
The damage was not extensive but according to the management of the Sagrada Familia this incident will oblige them to take another look at the question of security.
Undoubtedly for one reason or another, the Sagrada Familia will always be in the limelight.
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