Francisco Barba Corsini was a Spanish architect and designer born in Barcelona in 1916. He became one of the leading figures of postwar Spanish functionalism, developing a practice defined by simplicity, structural intelligence, and a strong sensitivity to modern living. GUBI's official designer profile notes that he won international praise for both his architecture and his work at La Pedrera in Barcelona, while also emphasizing his admiration for Finnish architecture and what he considered its powerful simplicity.
Corsini is especially remembered for his 1955 transformation of the attic of Antoni Gaudí's La Pedrera into 13 modern apartments. In designing this project, he also created a series of furniture and lighting pieces specifically for the interiors, drawing on the building's distinctive forms while introducing a more restrained and functional language. Designs such as the PD2 Floor Lamp, Pedrera Coffee Table, and ANA Pendant remain central to his legacy, combining architectural discipline with sculptural lightness. Although much of the interior was later removed during restoration work, the rediscovery and reissue of these designs helped return Barba Corsini to international design history. He died in 2008.
