The Catalunya La Pedrera foundation: much more than Gaudí's magnificent building

Do you know what natural heritage conservation, the employment of people at risk of social exclusion, and La Pedrera all have in common? They are all part of the work of Catalunya La Pedrera foundation, which has been working to transform society since 2013.

Our response to the needs of a changing world has a direct impact on the environment, our cities, and people, leading to a deeper awareness of the challenges and fresh ambition. The Catalunya La Pedrera foundation is an ethical and innovative non-profit that seeks to realize its commitment to the territory, culture, and people in concrete action.

Culture, heritage, and one of Barcelona's iconic buildings

How many times have you walked down Passeig de Gràcia and, even if you're rushing to a meeting, stopped for a moment to admire the majesty of the Casa Milà?

As its name suggests, this architectural work was the home of the Milà family and other well-known figures, and also played a key role in the expansion (the eixample) of Barcelona in the early twentieth century. The building, more popularly known as La Pedrera, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a city icon. But La Pedrera is much more than a simple tourist attraction, with guided tours complemented by exhibitions, conferences, and cultural activities. La Pedrera is also home to a number of families and company offices. The La Pedrera Catalunya foundation, whose headquarters are in the building, is responsible for ensuring that all groups using the building can live and work together in complete harmony.

In addition to La Pedrera, the Fundació manages Món Sant Benet, a unique destination located one hour from Barcelona. This project includes, on the one hand, a first-class tourist, cultural and gastronomic offer, with innovative visits to the Romanesque monastery of Sant Benet and modernist rooms created by the family of the painter Ramon Casas in the early twentieth century. Furthermore, it offers activities and workshops related with food thanks to the presence of the prestigious Alícia Foundation (Food and Science), which is dedicated to research so that everyone eats better.

Protecting natural heritage sites and promoting healthy eating

Good care of our environment and our resources is a way of taking care of ourselves. For this reason, the Catalunya La Pedrera foundation seeks to protect areas of great ecological value and enable us to appreciate our natural heritage. The aim of the Natural Areas Network, for example, is to preserve and manage places of great ecological and scenic value. Good management of these areas helps to conserve and improve biodiversity and the landscape, and, at the same time, to offer opportunities for the people who live in these areas. Two examples of the foundation's work are MónNatura Pirineus and MónNatura Ebro Delta. Though very different, both locations offer overnight stays and activities for all ages and aim to raise public awareness of the need for sustainable development and nature conservation.

Sustainable food production also plays a role in the preservation of the environment. For this reason the foundation promotes agro-ecological production through the Farmers' Network, an initiative that promotes the move to organic production as a way of improving the sustainability of farms. In addition, the foundation promotes healthy eating and carries out research into food products and nutrition.

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Promoting projects for the support of people and talent

One of the foundation's priorities is to provide support for equal opportunities. To this end, it has promoted job creation initiatives for people at risk of social exclusion, in many cases young people and people with intellectual disabilities. Projects include the Sant Benet kitchen gardens, the MANS Cooperative, and the Topromi foundation. In addition, the foundation is committed to improving the quality of life of the elderly, with projects like the REMS program those with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, and Come en compañía (Eat in Company), a service for those who live alone or who are beginning to have trouble preparing their daily meals.

Finally, it also supports education by helping children and adolescents to achieve educational success and promoting education, research and science.