This year at Grup Idea, we are celebrating our 30th anniversary. Over the course of three decades, we have partnered with national and international brands on architectural, engineering, construction, and implementation projects, constantly evolving to adapt to the changing needs of the market and our clients. Our philosophy has always been to adapt and support our clients, no matter what “problem” needs to be solved. That is why, for example, when our clients have expanded internationally, we have done the same to accompany them on a shared journey.

What began in 1993, following the Barcelona Olympics, as a small architecture firm in Barcelona founded by Lluís Sáiz and Artur Ortiz, has today become a group with an international presence and solid experience in sectors such as retail, corporate, fitness, banking, restaurants, healthcare, and hospitality.

As Lluís Sáiz, co-founder and partner of Grup Idea, recalls in our book The Architecture of Business Success:

“Architecture firms were taking on large-scale housing development projects, but we stuck to our specialty, making a name for ourselves and securing commissions.”

From the very beginning, Grup Idea has been committed to building its own identity based on specialisation, a close relationship with clients and the ability to adapt. Now, in 2026, we have become a benchmark in the sector, thanks to our disruptive approach from the outset and our commitment to upholding the brand against individualism. In our early days, talking about business, or concepts such as retail, was frowned upon, even by our fellow architects. Fortunately, this view is changing, and we have helped—and will continue to help—bring about this small but significant shift. It is not merely a symbolic change, but a move by the profession to engage with reality.

Architecture designed from the perspective of people

Over the years, the company has worked in sectors such as banking, retail, corporate, fitness, healthcare and hospitality, developing spaces designed not only to be functional, but also to convey corporate identity and brand experience.

Because Corporate Architecture—which we have championed since before its significance was fully understood—is not merely about design.

As Oscar Guayabero, who describes himself as a Curator and Paradiseñador, explains in the foreword to the book The Architecture of Business Success:

“Every building, every designed space, every space occupied by a company is also a way of narrating its identity.”

A vision shared by the Grup Idea team, where every project involves understanding the culture, values and real needs of each client.

As Rodolfo Pérez-Martos, partner and Director of Special Projects at Grup Idea, points out:

“Adapting to the client’s specific needs means putting yourself in their shoes and understanding their character, their tastes, what they dislike, their objectives and their expectations.”

At Grup Idea, we don’t put ourselves at the centre of the project. Not only do we put the client at the centre (who does us the ‘favour’ of paying us for our work), but we also put the user (consumer, diner, citizen…) – in other words, the person who inhabits the space – at the centre. That is why the name Nuklee reflects our approach to strategy and design: because we place the user at the very heart of the project.

Innovating to evolve

Innovation has been another of the cornerstones of Grup Idea’s evolution. Innovation understood not as a trend, but as a constant commitment to improvement, adaptation and the search for new solutions.

In the words of Alfons Cornella, an advocate of innovation and curiosity, in the book’s foreword:

“Innovation is not a whim, but a structural necessity for every company.”

And as Miquel Àngel Julià Hierro, who describes himself as a Concept Architect, Partner and Director of Design and Marketing at Grup Idea, adds:

“Innovation also means being aware of the past and, from the present, reinterpreting it to build a better future.”

Their cross-disciplinary perspective leads us to two concepts that are not only compatible but interconnected: Cross-disciplinary Approach and Professional Diversity. But both concepts would be enough for a new opinion piece, which is coming soon.

This drive for continuous improvement and constant evolution—because the only constant for us is change—has enabled Grup Idea to expand its services, open new international offices and evolve towards a working model increasingly focused on Project Management and the comprehensive management of projects.

From architecture and engineering to comprehensive project management

Over the past 30 years, Grup Idea has undergone constant evolution. From its early corporate architecture and banking projects to the creation of new business lines focused on design, construction, implementation and international expansion.

Over time, the company has incorporated new profiles, disciplines and services to offer an increasingly comprehensive view of projects.

This evolution now allows us to work from a holistic perspective where architecture, engineering, management and execution form part of a single strategy.

Today, our focus is particularly on project management and the comprehensive management of projects, coordinating each phase to ensure processes that are more efficient, agile and aligned with each client’s objectives.

Because true value lies not only in designing spaces, but in coordinating people, processes and execution to transform concepts into built realities.

Growth marked by internationalisation

One of the major milestones in our history has been the international consolidation of Grup Idea. From 2009 onwards, the company launched a major strategic plan led by Alejandro Mora, focused on international expansion and the implementation of projects for global brands.

Over the years, we have developed projects in various international markets and opened new offices in cities such as Paris, London, Valencia and Mexico City, strengthening our ability to support clients in their global expansion processes.

This growth was also accompanied by the creation of new companies and business lines such as Abessis and Nuklee, expanding our operational and strategic capabilities.

30 years on: Design Manage Build

Celebrating 30 years does not mean looking solely to the past, but also defining where we want to continue to grow.

To mark this anniversary, Grup Idea is unveiling a new strategic evolution of the brand, reflected in our new slogan: Design Manage Build.

Three words that sum up how we approach projects today: integrating design, management and construction under a single direction to ensure consistency, efficiency and control at every stage of the process.

This new approach reinforces the role of Project Management as the central hub capable of coordinating teams, processes and execution to transform concepts into real spaces.

As Alejandro Mora, Partner and CEO of Grup Idea, explains:

“One of our greatest challenges is managing our clients’ expansion when it involves a significant volume, but at the same time, it is one of our greatest areas of expertise.”

And as Juan Guaita, CEO of Abessis, sums up:

“It was no longer just about building, but about building methodically.”

Today, Grup Idea supports national and international brands in their expansion and growth processes, where technical coordination, planning and implementation are essential to guarantee the quality and timing of each opening.

A journey built as a team

None of this would have been possible without the trust of our clients, partners and teams who have been part of this story over the years.

We mark this anniversary by thanking everyone who has contributed to Grup Idea’s growth and by reaffirming our commitment to continuing to create spaces, drive projects and support brands in their transformation and expansion processes.

30 years on, we continue to design, manage and build together.

As Artur Ortiz, Co-founder and Partner at Grup Idea, says:

“I have put all my enthusiasm and passion into my work, striving to convey to the team the values that define me: honesty, respect, transparency, diversity and ethics.”

As Artur rightly points out, it is essential to trust the new generations and recognise that a company’s evolution is what ensures its continuity. And this is the best way to ensure that these values and the company’s purpose endure over time.

Both Lluís Saiz and Artur Ortiz continue to contribute to the company in their roles as founding partners and directors. Because their expertise and, above all, their forward-looking vision ensure that both partners and directors at Grup Idea stay on course, maintaining the purpose that underpins and will continue to underpin the brand.

Looking to the future

Because celebrating 30 years in business also means looking ahead. We always look to the future and adapt to it.

That is why, as part of the celebrations, we are presenting *The Architecture of Business Success*, a publication that distils our experience.

Far from being merely a commemorative exercise, the book is designed as a practical tool for reflection on business growth, decision-making and the ability to adapt in an increasingly changing environment.

Written collaboratively by the company’s current partners and directors, the volume offers a direct, unvarnished look at what it takes to sustain and develop a business over time.

Because, as Francesc Dominguez, professional development mentor and marketing consultant, writes in the book’s epilogue:

“Imagination applied to business is what makes Grup Idea sustainable.”

That “imagination that sells” which, 30 years on, the company continues to understand and apply. Every project is seen as an opportunity to learn, evolve and continue building spaces capable of connecting people, brands and experiences.

Thank you to everyone—clients, collaborators and teams—who have been part of this journey and the one that lies ahead.

We continue to design, manage and build together.