Of all the awards he has received throughout his degree program , being—along with his wife—the father of eight children and the grandfather of twenty-six grandchildren is at the top of Leopoldo Gil’s list. On May 11, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando named him a corresponding member for Navarre.
The architect, who has devoted his degree program to the restoration of monuments at the Príncipe de Viana Institution, as well as to teaching the School of Architecture the University of Navarra, is the fourth corresponding member appointed for this province.
A family of architects
Architecture has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. His father, Leopoldo Gil Nebot, headed the School of Architecture Barcelona —whereGil Cornet began hisstudies— and, years later, the School of Architecture the University of Navarra, where the new faculty member graduated as part of the ninth graduating class.
After graduating, Leopoldo became interested in teaching, inspired—like so degree program classmates—by the architect Curro Inza. He taught courses in the History of Architecture at the University of Navarra School of degree program, and beginning in 2000, he taught courses in Architectural Restoration and Rehabilitation.
The Art of Preserving Heritage
The corresponding members of this reference letter arts institution are prominent figures in the fields of art, culture, science, or literature who serve as representatives and liaisons for the institution in their provinces or countries.
Throughout his career, Leopoldo Gil has been involved in numerous historic restoration projects in Navarre. Notable among these are the Royal Collegiate Church of Roncesvalles (1982–2012), with which he was associated for more than three decades until his retirement; the Noáin Aqueduct (1990–2000); the Romanesque Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Torres del Río (1993–1994); the French Front of the Pamplona city walls (2000–2009); the Santa María de Ujué Monumental Complex (2001–2011); the medieval tower of the Church of San Pedro in Olite (2012–2013); and the restoration of the Dorrea Tower in Irurita (2015–2018).
He has also worked on the entrances, reception area, restrooms, and elevator at the Royal Palace of Olite (2019); the finding consolidation of the 11th-century remains of Elizaberría in Salinas de Ibargoiti; and the restoration of the cloister at Pamplona Cathedral (2015–2020).
This recognition joins the award for the Restoration and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (1998), which was awarded to the Príncipe de Viana Institution; the Silver Medal from the association of Friends of Castles for the restoration of the tower at the Señorío de Ayanz (2000); the award Union Cultural Heritageaward Nostraaward (2012), for its participation in the restoration of the French-facing section of the Pamplona City Walls; and the Rafael Manzano Martosaward Classical Architecture and Monument Restoration (2012), granted for his work the conservation of the Royal Collegiate Church of Roncesvalles between 1982 and 2012. In addition, in 2014 he was named Corresponding Member for the province of Navarre of the Royal Catalan Academy of Fine Arts of Sant Jordi.
Foundation for Traditional Building Cultures
Since retiring in 2021, he has remained involved in heritage conservation through the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation, which is dedicated to studying and promote in construction, architecture, and heritage conservation.
Media appearance
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