Chocolatier’s house soon to open its doors in Barcelona
After a 8-year-long restoration, Casa Ametller, one of the pearls of the Catalonian Modernisme, will be open for visits. In 1875, Antoni Ametller, successor of a big confectionery factory and a passionate traveller, collector and photographer, bought out a colourless apartment building located at Passeig de Gràcia, 41. A famous Catalonian architect Josep Puig i Cadafalc was invited for its renovation. The architect presented the fruit oh his labour in 1900, it was a quaint mixture of ”Catalonian Gothic Architecture” and different symbolic elements which did not fit the description of traditional art styles. The house is distinguished by a bright stepped gable, a fanciful balcony and cornice silhouettes, sophisticated plasterwork, wrought railing with animal sculptures by Eusebi Arnau and an allegorical picture of the owner on the façade.
Josep Puig I Cadafalc personally conducted the furniture design elaboration; he also employed 50 best craftsmen and ceramics, plasterwork, wood decorations, iron moulding and forging specialists.
The “Chocolate King”, Antoni Ametller was interested in photography; he took pictures of every corner of his wonderful house. Thanks to the kept photographs and other remaining documents, the architect could precisely restore the façade and splendid interior spaces of the house.
Casa Ametller was the first building of the “Block of Discord” (Manzana de la discordia), an area in Eixample district with totally different buildings breaking all the architectural stereotypes. The block got such a name because works of three main Barcelonian modernism masters, Gaudí, Domenech and Puig, are standing here side by side. The Spanish word “manzana” means “block” as well as “apple”, thus, “manzana de la discordia” also means “Apple of Discord”. Each house belonged to a family of influence, manufacturers or art patrons generous enough to invite the most expensive architects to work on their houses. Until now, only one building of this perfectly conserved collection has been open for visits, Casa Batlló (or “House of Bones”), a work of Antoni Gaudí.
In 1976 Casa Ametller was procounced a listed building of national importance.
