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Historical Archive which, thanks to its documental richness, provides a large amount of valuable –and in some cases unpublished– graphic documentation.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.
Set of buildings built in two different moments.
The oldest are from 1907 and present the modernist gatehouse and two pavilions. One is of exposed brick, rectangular in plan, with a gable roof covered with Roman tiles, and very narrow and high openings. The other is a large building of almost square plan, of plastered brick and exposed brick accenting the angles, windows and top line of the roof rail, with a tiled floor where there is a large tank.
One of the houses has a marked modernist style which, despite the humility suggested by its small volume and the fact that it is the hall of a factory, is not exempt from the decorativism typical of the period. It has plastered brick walls highlighting the openings and angles with exposed brick rows. There is an ornamental band of terracotta butterflies at the top. On the façade facing the factory courtyard, you can see a large rectangle with a Virgin Mary in white and blue glazed ceramics.
The interior is in perfect condition, preserving an early 20th century object that worked as a fire alarm.
The other block of buildings corresponds to the expansion of the 1920s and consists of four large rectangular buildings of plastered brick and a gable roof each, but covered with uralite.
A large exposed brick chimney rises between the two parts. It is about 60 metres high and has a hexagonal base.
Can Vilumara was installed in 1907 next to La Farga. At that time there were already 35 large industries in the municipality. Prosperous company dedicated to textiles, especially silk, underwent remodelling and expansions between 1922 and 1928 and is currently leased by its owner, Mr. Josep Mª Vilumara, since 1982, as a secondary school and sports field.