Architect Jordi Bonet dies at the age of 97

Architect Jordi Bonet has died at the age of 97, according to his family on social media. Bonet was the director and coordinator of the works of the Basilica of the Sagrada Família from 1985 to 2012, a position that had already been held by his father, a direct disciple of Antoni Gaudí. Born in the Catalan capital in 1925, he received the Ciutat de Barcelona awards (1989) for the restoration of the Casa Garriga Nogués and for the continuation works of the Sagrada Família, the Creu de Sant Jordi of the Generalitat (1990) and the Cross of 'Alfonso X the Wise' (2006), among others.

His architectural work was very extensive with numerous single and multi-family housing buildings, auditoriums, theaters, schools, churches, urban plans and residences.

He was general director of the artistic and cultural heritage of Catalonia; World Scout leader, member of the 'Pontificium Consilium pro Laicis' and president of the Royal Catalan Academy of Fine Arts of Sant Jordi (1998-2011).

He published the books: 'Architecture in the Service of Music' (1986), 'Temple of the Sagrada Família' (1992), 'The Last Gaudí' (2000), and 'The Schools of the Sagrada Família' ( 2003). He wrote articles and gave numerous lectures around the world, on Gaudí and the monumental heritage and restoration of buildings as a visiting professor at several universities.

As Director General of Artistic and Cultural Heritage of the Generalitat, he bought the 44 works by Sixena that were in the Lleida Museum. Bonet said in an interview with the ACN that they had acquired them in order to "save" them.

“He has lived architecture, Scouting and culture with enthusiasm. A man faithful to Catalonia and to the faith, a lover of a job well done, values that he learned from his parents and that he has bequeathed to us ", his son Lluís Bonet wrote in a tweet on Twitter. His granddaughter Mireia DB also wrote: “He has been a good and generous man, an active countryman, an enthusiast of architecture, culture, Scouting, skiing, and a patriot who has led Catalonia and Gaudí around the world".