Casa Tosquella, Residential villa in El Putxet i el Farró, Spain
Casa Tosquella is a residential villa in Barcelona that combines Catalan modernism with Arabic design elements and spans about 9,300 square feet (866 square meters). The building displays ornate wrought iron details, decorative stucco work featuring plant and animal designs on its facades, painted ceilings made using hot plaster techniques, and stained glass windows throughout.
The building was constructed in 1889 as a summer home for merchant Antoni Tosquella when Barcelona's wealthy class was moving to the northern neighborhoods. Architect Eduard Maria Balcells i Buïgas redesigned it substantially between 1907 and 1908, adding the modernist features that define it today.
This residence once represented the modern lifestyle of Barcelona's wealthy families in the early 1900s and reflected their taste for artistic design and craftsmanship. Today it serves the local community as a public facility, demonstrating how historic buildings adapt to meet contemporary needs.
The building sits on Vallirana Street surrounded by gardens open to visitors who want to see the exterior and grounds. Visit during daylight hours to fully appreciate the detailed work on the facades and the decorative elements inside.
The wooden doors feature carved animal forms that reflect Arabic artistic traditions mixed with European modernist design. This blend of East and West in a single private home was an uncommon choice in Barcelona at the time.
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