MIAS Architects

MIAS Architects is an internationally recognized architecture and urbanism studio founded by Josep Miàs in Barcelona in 2000. Before establishing his own practice, Josep Miàs served as an Associate Architect at Enric Miralles' studio from 1990 to 2000, an experience that shaped the studio's experimental and technically ambitious approach. The firm combines sustainable technology, innovative manufacturing and cutting-edge construction practices, and has built a reputation for projects that range from public buildings and social housing to corporate headquarters and urban transformations. Among the studio's best-known works are the Fontanals Golf Club, the Urbanization of the Historic Center of Banyoles, the Barceloneta Market, the 22@Plug-in Building, the iGuzzini Lighting Iberian Headquarters, the Torre Baró Apartment Tower, the Cloud Andorra Telecom Headquarters, and an ongoing collaboration with Tibidabo Amusement Park. MIAS was also shortlisted for the New Camp Nou, F.C. Barcelona Stadium. The iGuzzini Barcelona Corporate Building, known as Il Cielo, is a spherical office and research facility suspended from a single central column above an underground technical floor, and has been documented in a dedicated publication. The practice has received numerous international awards, including the COAC Barcelona Catalonia Architecture Award for the Best Building between 2008–2013, the International Stone Architecture Award (2013), the Architizer Building of the World Award (2013), the Archdaily Building of the Year Award (2011), the A+ Architecture Award for the Best Educational Building in Spain (2011), the Catalonia Construction Award (2009), the City of Barcelona Architecture and Urbanism Award (2007), the Girona Architecture Award (2007), and the AJAC Best Young Catalan Architect Award (2004). Selected projects have been published in international journals, books and magazines and exhibited in over 40 exhibitions, including two monographic exhibitions, MIAS – Unpredictable Traces at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, which acquired 42 models, 14 drawings and 18 engravings for its permanent collection. In 2024, the American Institute of Architects recognized Josep Miàs as an Honorary AIA Fellow for his exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society on an international level; he received the Honorary Fellow AIA 2024 medal on June 6 during the Fellow Investiture at the Warner Theatre in Washington DC. The studio continues to work on major urban projects, including winning the Fira Barcelona Innovation Hub International Competition and, as part of UTE BIG+MIAS, the competition to transform the Palau del Vestit, with construction expected to begin in early 2026 and completion by 2029, coinciding with the centenary of the 1929 International Exposition. Three major architectural projects are set to transform the Montjuïc site in Barcelona.

MIAS Architects was founded in Barcelona in 2000 by Josep Miàs, who had previously worked as an Associate Architect at Enric Miralles' studio from 1990 to 2000. This decade of experience within one of Spain's most influential architectural practices informed the studio's early direction, which combined experimental design with a strong interest in sustainable technology, innovative manufacturing and cutting-edge construction practices. In its first decade, MIAS Architects built a diverse portfolio spanning public, cultural, residential and corporate projects. Notable early works include the Fontanals Golf Club, the Urbanization of the Historic Center of Banyoles, the Barceloneta Market, the 22@Plug-in Building, the iGuzzini Lighting Iberian Headquarters, the Torre Baró Apartment Tower, and the Cloud Andorra Telecom Headquarters. The studio also began an ongoing collaboration with Tibidabo Amusement Park and was shortlisted for the New Camp Nou, F.C. Barcelona Stadium. The iGuzzini Barcelona Corporate Building, known as Il Cielo, exemplifies the studio's technical and formal experimentation. Located by one of the roadway hubs of Barcelona, the building is a spherical form emerging from an underground container that provides storage, parking, showroom, auditorium and technical services. Its roof functions as an exterior technical floor and outdoor showroom, while the sphere itself is suspended from a single central column, with offices and, on the upper floors, research facilities. Recognition followed steadily. MIAS received the AJAC Best Young Catalan Architect Award in 2004, the City of Barcelona Architecture and Urbanism Award and the Girona Architecture Award in 2007, the Catalonia Construction Award in 2009, the Archdaily Building of the Year Award and the A+ Architecture Award for the Best Educational Building in Spain in 2011, and the COAC Barcelona Catalonia Architecture Award for the Best Building between 2008–2013, the International Stone Architecture Award and the Architizer Building of the World Award in 2013. Selected projects have been published in international journals, books and magazines and exhibited in over 40 exhibitions, including two monographic exhibitions, MIAS – Unpredictable Traces at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, which acquired 42 models, 14 drawings and 18 engravings for its permanent collection. In 2024, the American Institute of Architects recognized Josep Miàs as a 2024 Honorary AIA Fellow for his exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society on an international level. He received the Honorary Fellow AIA 2024 medal on June 6 during the Fellow Investiture at the Warner Theatre in Washington DC. The studio's recent work includes winning the Fira Barcelona Innovation Hub International Competition and, as part of UTE BIG+MIAS, the competition to transform the Palau del Vestit. The winning proposal is set to begin construction in early 2026 and is expected to be completed by 2029, coinciding with the centenary of the 1929 International Exposition. Three major architectural projects are set to transform the Montjuïc site in Barcelona.

• 2026

  Construction set to begin on Palau del Vestit transformation by UTE BIG+MIAS.

• 2024

  Josep Miàs recognized as 2024 Honorary AIA Fellow; received medal on June 6 at Warner Theatre, Washington DC.

• 2023

  Ulldecona Social Housing won Architecture Masterprize Social Housing Award; nominated in LOOP Design Awards Multi Unit Housing category.

• 2013

  Received COAC Barcelona Catalonia Architecture Award for Best Building 2008–2013, International Stone Architecture Award, and Architizer Building of the World Award.

• 2011

  Received Archdaily Building of the Year Award and A+ Architecture Award for Best Educational Building in Spain.

• 2009

  Received Catalonia Construction Award.

• 2007

  Received City of Barcelona Architecture and Urbanism Award and Girona Architecture Award.

• 2004

  Received AJAC Best Young Catalan Architect Award.

• 2000

  MIAS Architects founded by Josep Miàs in Barcelona.

• Palau del Vestit project expected to be completed, coinciding with the centenary of the 1929 International Exposition.

Internationally recognized architecture and urbanism studio known for experimental projects combining sustainable technology, innovative manufacturing and cutting-edge construction practices.

• Barceloneta Market

• iGuzzini Lighting Iberian Headquarters (Il Cielo)

• 22@Plug-in Building

• Torre Baró Apartment Tower

• Cloud Andorra Telecom Headquarters

• Fontanals Golf Club

• Urbanization of the Historic Center of Banyoles

• Ulldecona Social Housing

• 72 Social Housing Units at the Marina de Prat Vermell

• Tibidabo Amusement Park collaboration

• New Camp Nou, F.C. Barcelona Stadium (shortlisted)

• Fira Barcelona Innovation Hub

• Palau del Vestit transformation (UTE BIG+MIAS)

1. 1MIAS Architects official websitemiasarquitectes.com
2. 2MIAS Architects Info pagemiasarquitectes.com
3. 3iGuzzini: Barcelona Corporate Buildingmiasarquitectes.com
4. 4Wikidata: Mias Architectswikidata.org