The session, held in the Aula Magna on the Barcelona Campus, brought together experts in liturgy, art and technology to reflect on religious architecture from a sensory, symbolic and contemporary perspective. It was introduced by Dr Architect Josep Lluís i Ginovart, professor of Architectural Heritage Intervention at UIC Barcelona, alongside lecturer Dr Architect Cinta Lluís Teruel.
Jordi-Agustí Piqué, Benedictine prior of the Abbey of Montserrat and Doctor of Theology, opened the session with an online speech from the Abbey of Montecassino (Italy). In his talk, “The Musical Discourse of Sacred Space”, he approached liturgical architecture from the perspective of sound.
Piqué argued that religious space should emerge from chant and word, rather than imposing a pre-existing form. “The temple is not just any resonance box: it is a sound body at the service of the mystery,” he explained. In this sense, he analysed current designs which, according to him, “reduce the church to a multipurpose hall,” emphasising the importance of integrating the organ, the lectern, and silence as part of the sacred space's language.
From the realm of the visual arts, artist Javier Viver presented the ambitious project of the contemporary monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, currently under construction in Boadilla del Monte (Madrid). Standing at over 37 metres tall, the sculpture is conceived as a habitable temple incorporating technological, lighting, and participatory elements.
“We want the visitor not just to see, but to experience it with all their senses. To discover with the eyes of Christ,” stated Viver. The artist detailed how the monument’s interior form is inspired by the Shroud of Turin and articulated through digital technology and artificial intelligence. Inside, a golden heart descends at dawn and rises at dusk, symbolising the divine heartbeat. The project also aspires to become the home of a future educational space focused on art, spirituality, and community.
Dr Rosa M. Alsina, an expert in architectural acoustics, gave a lecture focused on the relationship between architectural form and sound perception in liturgical spaces. She analysed how materials, geometry, and spatial arrangement influence the acoustic quality of temples, altering the auditory and spiritual experience of the faithful.
Alsina stressed the importance of proper acoustic design, highlighting that sound in a sacred space is not merely background noise, but can structure the perception of the place and ritual. In this context, she explained how architectural design shapes the propagation and perception of sound, transforming the environment and enhancing the experience of silence and spirituality within the temple.
The session concluded with a roundtable discussion where the speakers agreed on the need to recover sacred architecture that not only houses rituals but also generates an integral experience through the body, light, sound, and community.
The Foros 2025 series will conclude on 21 May with a new session focused on the conservation of religious heritage and the symbolism of the Sagrada Família as an open work, within the context of Barcelona as the World Capital of Architecture in 2026.
More information on the Foros 2025 series:
https://www.uic.es/es/noticia/uic-barcelona-school-architecture-inicia-el-ciclo-de-conferencias-foros-2025-principio
