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Historical Archive which, thanks to its documental richness, provides a large amount of valuable –and in some cases unpublished– graphic documentation.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 building designed by Domènech i Montaner follows the same structure that Josep Puig i Cadafalch used for the neighbouring Carbonell factory.
The project consisted of two elongated naves arranged symmetrically with a building in between that provided the power for both buildings.
In the end, however, it was only possible to build a 75 metre-long by a 15-metre wide nave, with a total of 1000 square metres. A diaphanous space with a height of more than 7 metres. The structure is made of iron beams arranged perpendicular to the length of the nave, forming corbels with a gable roof. The roof is supported by cast pillars located in the centre of the nave.
The nave is accessed through four doors, one on each façade.
It is a very sober construction. The side of the nave has a simple decorative moulding that frames the windows. The ends of the nave have two large circular medallions decorated with the image of a Latin sailing boat made of mosaic on either side of the door. The crowning of the building is followed by a fragmented frieze.
At the ends of the nave were two closed rooms. In one there was the warehouse and in the other the offices.
The Jover, Serra i Cia knitwear factory was founded in 1894. For this company, Isidre Jover Lavera and Francesc Xavier Serra Font joined forces and started the business in a house on Carrer Sant Benet.
Five years later, as sales were going well, they decided to build a factory on the outskirts of town. They entrusted the project to the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who worked together with his son, Pere Domènech i Roura.
The works began in May 1900 and in September it was inaugurated. Despite the speed with which the works were carried out, the new factory was not occupied until 1903.
In 1909, the factory was expanded. In any case, however, the twin nave that had been initially projected was not built. Two independent buildings were built, a warehouse and office and the other to house the machinery.
It is the only industrial building designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
In 1899, Domènech plans the textile factory Jover, Serra i Cia in Canet de Mar.
Although the original project has not been located, it seems that two symmetrical industrial buildings were planned, but only one was built.
It was a large diaphanous nave, with cast pillars and flat brick vaults supported on metal beams. The façades had decorative sgraffitos.
In 1909 the warehouse building and factory offices were built, but in this case the building is attributed to his son, Pere Domènech Roura.
In the 1960s, the original Domènech i Montaner building was expanded and completely transformed. Currently, the complex is unused and quite deteriorated.