Guide: visit Casa Vicens

The building is a blend of Mudéjar art and other oriental influences, incorporating materials like ceramics, wrought iron, stained glass, and woodwork—signature elements of Catalan modernism. Upon visiting the site and observing the local vegetation, Gaudí drew inspiration from nature, incorporating botanical motifs throughout the house, such as the yellow tiles on the facade, which mimic the yellow flowers that grew on the plot before construction began. Natural symbols like these became a constant theme in Gaudí’s later works.

In 1925, the house’s new owner, Dr. Jover, decided to expand the property, transforming it from a summer home into a permanent residence. Jover purchased adjacent plots to enlarge the garden, reaching a maximum area of 1,738 square meters. At the time, Gaudí was busy with the Sagrada Família project, so he recommended Joan Baptista Serra, a fellow architect, to handle the expansion. Serra’s renovations converted the house into three separate apartments, one on each floor. He also built a waterfall and a chapel dedicated to Santa Rita in the garden, although these were later demolished to make way for new housing in the area.

Over the years, Casa Vicens changed ownership several times, with each new renovation diluting Gaudí’s distinctive style. Before opening the house to the public, significant restoration work was done to recover as much of the original design as possible. In 2004, the house was sold to the Andorran bank MoraBanc, which restored it and converted it into a museum, opening its doors to the public in 2017. During the renovations, some of Serra’s garden extensions were removed, and the basement, garden, and second floor were adapted for visitors and exhibitions.