Casa Vicens is the first house designed by Antoni Gaudí. It is located in the neighborhood of Gràcia and became a museum, being considered one of the first buildings of Art Nouveau.
The style is a reflection of Neo-Mudéjar architecture. What was unique about Gaudí is that he mixed different styles and incorporated different materials (iron, glass, ceramic tiles and concrete). With this new approach, Casa Vicens marked the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Catalan architecture.
In 1883, Gaudí was commissioned by Manuel Vicens i Montaner for the construction of a summer residence after obtaining the permission from the City Council of Vila de Gràcia.
This early work exhibits several influences, most notably being the Mudéjar influence. Casa Vicens is Gaudí’s first time to use an orientalist style, mixing together Hispanic and Arabic elements, a type of architecture that completely breaks the norm of the period and represents the flowering of Catalan modern architecture. The plans for construction (site, main floor, facade and section) date back to January 15, 1883. The house is constructed of undressed stone, rough red bricks, and colored ceramic tiles in both checkerboard and floral patterns.
At the time of this construction, Gaudí was just beginning his career. He graduated from the Provincial School of Architecture in Barcelona in 1878 and, in that period, his work portrayed a Victorian style, similar to that of his predecessors. Shortly after finishing school he developed his own style that includes the juxtaposition of geometric masses, the use of ceramic tiles, metalwork, and abstract brick ornamentation.
In 1899, a doctor from Cuba, Antonio Jover, acquired the residence as a holiday home, but only moved to Barcelona, 25 years later. During the time of his ownership, the house was a private building and not open to the public. The one day people could visit was Saint Rita's on 22th of May. In 1925, the architect Juan Sierra de Martínez added a new bay to the rear of the building, extended the garden and modified the main floor and the entrances, the former entrance being converted into a window with a street view. These renovations were done with respect to the original work and Gaudí himself approved the plans. Martínez had won the prize for the best and most emblematic building of the city of Barcelona (“Concurs anual d'edificis artístics”) in 1927.
An additional restoration took place between 2001 and 2004 under the architect Ignacio Herrero Jover. The aim of it was to consolidate the facades and furnishings.
Casa Vicens was a private residence until 2014 when it was purchased by “MoraBanc Andorra”. A final major restoration was conducted before opening the marvelous building to the public as a museum in November 2017.
For the schedule and additional details, please visit Casa Vicens’s web page.
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