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Historical Archive which, thanks to its documental richness, provides a large amount of valuable –and in some cases unpublished– graphic documentation.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.
The housing complex at Rambla del Prat 4-6-8-10 is located on the street of the same name, in the district of Gràcia. It is a group of very homogeneous buildings between partitions, almost all of which are used as dwellings. The only commercial ground floor documented is at number 4. Above this ground floor there are four more flats, as well as rooftop.
Although built in different phases over a period of almost 20 years, the stylistic conception of the façades is very unified. Buildings number 4 and 10 have two balconies per floor, except for the first floor, which combines a balcony and a window. Buildings number 6 and 8 have four openings joined by a single balcony on the first floor, while the rest combine two balconies in the centre with two windows on each side. Buildings number 6 and 8 are topped by a central crown of scrolls with floral motifs.
The decorative features of the façade include the windows on the ground floor. These are quadrangular in shape and have a central column crowned by a capital decorated with foliate motifs. Above them, the whole ensemble has a pediment with large, non-floral leaf and plant motifs. Similar decorative motifs are found between these windows and the plinths. The balconies of the four buildings have a lobed plan and are more or less long depending on whether they have one or two entrances. All of them are crowned by a profusely decorated head in three parts, all of which are decorated with vegetal motifs. Although of different sizes, depending on whether they are above a window or a balcony, the closing parts are very homogeneous in terms of morphology and decorative motifs. The doors of number 6 and 8 are framed in wood to create four glass spaces. The frames have sinuous forms and the central and upper sections are decorated with plant motifs.
The architectural extension and development of the building is reflected in the recent doors of number 4 and 10, as well as in changes to the plinth.