Casa Malagrida, Art Nouveau residential building in Dreta de l'Eixample, Barcelona, Spain
Casa Malagrida is an Art Nouveau building in Dreta de l'Eixample featuring a central dome and three vertical sections on its facade. Large windows with lowered arches supported by smooth columns define its appearance, while ground-floor shops sit beneath residential apartments accessed through a rectangular vestibule on the upper levels.
Architect Joaquim Codina i Matalí designed this building between 1905 and 1908 for Manuel Malagrida, a tobacco trader returning from Argentina. The structure became a reflection of his business interests and international experience.
The entrance features sculptures of a Pyrenean eagle and an Andean condor, symbolizing a historical connection between Spain and Argentina. These animals represent the importance of the owner's Argentine ties in shaping how the building was designed and decorated.
The building sits on a busy street in the Eixample neighborhood and is easy to reach on foot. The decorative facade and inner details are visible from the sidewalk, so visitors can appreciate the architecture without entering the interior.
In 1927, a young apprentice painter named Antoni Clavé was tasked with repainting the golden dome, who would later become one of Catalonia's most respected artists. This early work on the building marked the beginning of his artistic career.
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