Casa Maestre, Art Nouveau mansion in Plaza de San Francisco, Cartagena, Spain
Casa Maestre is a residential building in Art Nouveau style located on Plaza de San Francisco in Cartagena, featuring organic forms and refined ornamentation. The facade combines flowing curves with floral decoration, displaying the hallmark characteristics of this design movement.
The house was built in 1906 by architects Marcel·lià Coquillat i Llofriu and Víctor Beltri i Roqueta during a time of major architectural renewal in the city. This period brought numerous innovative buildings that transformed Cartagena's urban landscape.
The building was named after a prosperous merchant and reveals how the wealthy families of Cartagena lived during that era. The ornate facade demonstrates the refined tastes and status of its original residents.
The building stands on a busy square in central Cartagena, easily accessible on foot and surrounded by other points of interest. The best time to photograph it is early morning or late afternoon, when light brings out the fine details of the facade.
The architects incorporated local materials and craftsmanship methods common to southeastern Spain, blending them with European artistic traditions. This mixture created a distinctive interpretation of Art Nouveau that sets it apart from its French and Belgian origins.
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