Miratge

Located in the vibrant cultural core of Barcelona, Miratge Lounge Coffee is a striking architectural landmark that merges biomimicry, advanced parametric design, and a refined tribute to local heritage. Inspired by the unique skin of the thorny devil — a desert lizard known for its spiny surface and remarkable ability to harvest water — the building features a translucent, sculptural envelope that feels alive, organic, and intensely futuristic.

Its outer shell, composed of horn-like translucent structures, recalls the reptile’s natural armor, capturing light by day and glowing from within by night. But Miratge is more than aesthetic poetry: the façade is also functionally biomimetic, engineered to collect atmospheric moisture through the same capillary principles used by the thorny devil. In the cool hours of the early morning, condensation gathers on the surface and is channeled through microgrooves into a hidden reservoir system — a sustainable water-harvesting feature that responds directly to Barcelona’s increasing challenges with drought and water scarcity.

This duality of form and function extends inside, where the soft, ambient lighting and richly textured materials create a luxurious yet natural atmosphere. Seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces invite visitors into an experience that is sensorial, immersive, and unique.

A contemporary homage to Antoni Gaudí, Miratge embraces his love for organic, flowing forms and integrates them with modern digital craftsmanship. The complex curvature of the structure, realized through AI-assisted design, echoes the language of Gaudí’s works while pushing it into a new era of luxury and innovation.

Awarded an Honorable Mention in the Architecture & AI Competition by Never Enough Architecture, Miratge Lounge Coffee stands as a visionary collaboration between architect Ermanno Susa and the Ajuntament de Barcelona. It is a pavilion that does not merely serve coffee — it harvests water, tells a story, and embodies a future where architecture responds to the climate and the culture that surrounds it.