In this first stage, the catalogue focuses on the modern and contemporary architecture designed and built between 1832 –year of construction of the first industrial chimney in Barcelona that we establish as the beginning of modernity– until today.
The project is born to make the architecture more accessible both to professionals and to the citizens through a website that is going to be updated and extended. Contemporary works of greater general interest will be incorporated, always with a necessary historical perspective, while gradually adding works from our past, with the ambitious objective of understanding a greater documented period.
The collection feeds from multiple sources, mainly from the generosity of architectural and photographic studios, as well as the large amount of excellent historical and reference editorial projects, such as architectural guides, magazines, monographs and other publications. It also takes into consideration all the reference sources from the various branches and associated entities with the COAC and other collaborating entities related to the architectural and design fields, in its maximum spectrum.
Special mention should be made of the incorporation of vast documentation from the COAC Historical Archive which, thanks to its documental richness, provides a large amount of valuable –and in some cases unpublished– graphic documentation.
The rigour and criteria for selection of the works has been stablished by a Documental Commission, formed by the COAC’s Culture Spokesperson, the director of the COAC Historical Archive, the directors of the COAC Digital Archive, and professionals and other external experts from all the territorial sections that look after to offer a transversal view of the current and past architectural landscape around the territory.
The determination of this project is to become the largest digital collection about Catalan architecture; a key tool of exemplar information and documentation about architecture, which turns into a local and international referent, for the way to explain and show the architectural heritage of a territory.
We kindly invite you to help us improve the dissemination of Catalan architecture through this space. Here you can propose works and provide or amend information on authors, photographers and their work, along with adding comments. The Documentary Commission will analyze all data. Please do only fill in the fields you deem necessary to add or amend the information.
The Arxiu Històric del Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya is one of the most important documentation centers in Europe, which houses the professional collections of more than 180 architects whose work is fundamental to understanding the history of Catalan architecture. By filling this form, you can request digital copies of the documents for which the Arxiu Històric del Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya manages the exploitation of the author's rights, as well as those in the public domain. Once the application has been made, the Arxiu Històric del Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya will send you an approximate budget, which varies in terms of each use and purpose.
Magnificent Moorish Revival ensemble. The building is largely built with brickwork, often using procedures characteristic of Catalan palaces, such as the vaulted brick vaults. The horseshoe arch and the top of the building, which form the main fence presided over by two large horseshoe arch gates, each protected by two cylindrical towers, are among the most used elements. It is worth mentioning the slightly rectangular cloister formed by 5 x 6 horseshoe arches organised on two floors, with three interior palm trees. This cloister, forged with metal beams and ceramic tumblers, contains the utensils necessary to produce wine, particularly the vats, on the ground floor. Among the dates we have been able to see in the building, they refer to the year 1888 on a forged grate, the year 1924 on a fountain and the year 1925 on the chapel without worship.
The work, although within the eclectic style, presents some contradictions, possibly due to later extensions, such as the side porch. On the other hand, doubts also arise from its chronology in relation to the figure of Ali Bey (the adventurer and spy Domènec Badia i Labric) whose life spans between 1766 and 1818, a period possibly too advanced in relation to the shapes of Can Ferrer del Mas. However, if this relationship is confirmed, it would really be an advanced phenomenon in the history of neo-Moorish architecture, not only at a national level, but also internationally.
The main house and the rest of the interior buildings have been demolished and rebuilt only partially on their south façade.