Laguillo's work, which combines artistic and documentary aspects, focuses on one of the most important yet unknown heritage buildings of the 20th century in Barcelona. This intervention is carried out within the framework of the second edition of the Generalitat de Catalunya's Passat/Present project. The Casa Bloc, located in Sant Andreu, is a social housing complex promoted in 1931 by the Generalitat during the Second Republic and designed by architects Josep Lluís Sert, Josep Torres Clavé, and Joan Baptista Subirana (GATPAC), representing a key example of rationalism in Catalonia.
“"What I have tried to do, and I believe I have succeeded, is that through photography, the Casa Bloc and its history, what it has represented and represents, are better understood. The intervention has a vocation of service to the citizenry."
The photographic proposal is presented in a foldable format known as a leporello, featuring eight images that portray the building from various perspectives. Laguillo had to photograph the characteristic 'S' shape of the Casa Bloc from the rooftop of a building across the street, as proximity and restrictions prevented capturing the structure well from within. Furthermore, the images document the "scar" left by the Francoist dictatorship, such as the trace of the demolition of the "ghost block" built in 1948 for police, and interior sections that served as a military prison.
“"Laguillo has not only portrayed cement, glass, and rationalism, but the experience, history, and life of the building from within. His gaze is that of someone who has walked the space extensively, who has sought very specific images."
The installation, which also featured two large-format photographs in the lobby of the Museu del Disseny Hub de Barcelona (DHub) on July 14, seeks to highlight the link between the museum and the building, located on the city's periphery. Due to the initiative's success, the exhibition has been extended until April 26, 2026, as confirmed by Frederic Montornes.
