Three generations dedicated to theatre

The Location

The location of the monument, on the Ramblas – just below l’Arc del Teatre –, could be explained by several historical and sentimental reasons related to the professional activity of the Santpere family. However, the specific location I proposed, in front of Santa Mónica, was also supported by urban design considerations. In this section, where the central promenade widens and the western façade fades, the Rambla loses the magical scale balance it has in the upper part. A low volume, offset from the promenade’s axis so as not to obstruct the view of the Colón monument, shifted towards the west to balance the void created there, not only respected but also enlivened and improved this urban space.

The Monument

We saw it as very difficult to erect a reminder of a family dedicated to theatre through figurative statues of the characters in question. Instead, we designed a monument with multiple references to the art of theatre and the Santpere family. The concave side made a clear reference to Greek theatre through a symbolic reduction of the Epidaurus semicircle. On the convex side, Juan Bordes modelled a relief explaining the history of these artists. The eternal problem of nocturnal lighting for this frieze was solved with lanterns, another clear reference to the profession of those being commemorated.

The Fountain

We included a fountain because it added a necessary and gratifying use, softened the monument’s grandeur and seriousness, and symmetrically closed the Ramblas in the same way that Canaletes did.