The research carried out by Núria Poch has allowed for the precise dating of the first preserved work by the architect Antoni Gaudí in Mataró. It is a chalet designed in 1878, commissioned by Salvador Pagès, director of the cooperative La Obrera Mataronense, five years before the construction of the well-known Nau Gaudí.

Until now, the Nau Gaudí was considered 'mile zero' of the architect's production in the city, but the discovery of the Pagès chalet fills a significant gap regarding the details and conditions of Gaudí's commissions during his early youth.

The project, which ultimately cost 1,790 pesetas, was marked by an economic conflict. The bricklayer responsible for the execution claimed a payment higher than the initial budget. Gaudí intervened as a mediator, setting a price of 900 pesetas, although the bricklayer demanded 2,451. The final agreed price was 1,790 pesetas.

To commemorate this milestone and the Gaudí Year, the Nau Gaudí will host the exhibition ‘Gaudí, Pagès i l’Obrera’. The exhibition will open on March 27 and can be visited until January 17, 2017, focusing on the architect's relationship with Mataró between 1878 and 1885.

These activities coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Consorci Museu d’Art Contemporani de Mataró, headquartered at the Nau Gaudí, which is celebrated in 2026. In its fifteen years of history, the Consortium has organized 57 exhibitions and attracted nearly 140,000 visitors, with international presence in cities such as Sofia, Krakow, and New York.