Palace of Catalan Music: A Modernist Masterpiece in Barcelona
Listing: The Palace of Catalan Music, a masterpiece of Catalan Modernism, was designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. Constructed between 1905 and 1908 in Barcelona, this architectural gem showcases an innovative blend of iron, glass, ceramics, and brick. Domènech i Montaner, who graduated in architecture in 1873, designed several notable buildings in Barcelona’s Eixample district. By 1900, he had become a prominent figure in Catalan Modernism, known for his intelligent integration of architecture and decorative arts. He also played a significant role in teaching and research at the Barcelona School of Architecture and actively participated in Catalan cultural life, even serving as a deputy in the courts of Madrid.
Modernism, as a style, emphasizes elaborate decoration, both internally and externally. This emphasis on ornamentation, driven by a “horror vacui,” led to the adornment of every available surface, as seen in the Casa Garí in Argentona and the Casa Macaya in Barcelona. Catalan Art Nouveau architecture extended beyond residential buildings, encompassing institutional, religious, healthcare, educational, industrial, and even office structures.
Formal Analysis
Site: The Palace of Catalan Music occupies an irregularly shaped corner lot in a relatively confined space. A sculpture by Miquel Blay, representing an allegory of popular song, stands at the corner instead of a simple joining of walls. The sculpture comprises two parts: one depicting domestic life with female figures and children, and the other representing the world of work with a worker, a farmer, and a fisherman holding music sheets. Saint George precedes this ensemble. The main façade features a mosaic highlighting balanguera dancers, flanked by singers in the background and the Montserrat mountains.
Interior Space: The interior is divided into three sections: the entrances, the auditorium, and the stage. The concert hall serves as the central element, around which the other spaces revolve. The stage, stalls, and boxes are seamlessly integrated, breaking from the traditional separation. Atop the stage, instead of the usual proscenium arch, two sculptural groups define the space, one representing popular music and the other classical music. Behind the stage, sculpted busts of female figures playing various instruments emerge from the wall. The main hall is illuminated by a large, inverted dome-shaped stained-glass skylight.
Construction and Interior Decoration
The construction and decoration of the interior seamlessly unite architecture, painting, sculpture, and decorative arts. This fusion embodies the characteristics that garnered enthusiastic support for Modernism from the ruling bourgeoisie, religious figures, and nationalists. The movement drew inspiration from the national heritage of 14th and 15th-century Gothic art while simultaneously embracing the modernity demanded by the industrial bourgeoisie, who valued technical and aesthetic innovations and sought to express their refined taste and wealth.
The building’s structure relies on a network of metallic iron columns supporting a large glass enclosure combined with ceramics, bricks, and pottery. Concentrating the loads on specific points frees the walls from the burden of supporting the structure. Unlike traditional stone construction, iron is employed for this purpose. Domènech i Montaner also incorporates traditional techniques, such as small round arches between beams, pottery, and tile-covered columns.
Urban Integration
The Palace is situated on a small street corner in central Barcelona. Its location in a less prominent area reflects the choir members’ desire to have their headquarters near their residences.
Meaning and Content
The strong character of the Catalan choir imbued the Palace of Catalan Music with significant symbolic value from its inception. The association with charismatic Catalan artists, the use of popular references, and allusions to the Catalan homeland, whether through allegories or depictions of the Catalan flag (which had to be concealed during the Franco dictatorship), transformed the building into a patriotic symbol linked to the cultural renaissance movement. In the architect’s own words: “The Palace of Catalan Music is the temple of Catalan Art and the Palace of our renaissance.”
Interpretation
Function: The building served as the headquarters of the Orfeó Català (Catalan Choral Society), founded in 1891, and as a concert hall.
Models and Influences: The Palace of Catalan Music seamlessly blends Catalan constructive tradition and modernity. This is evident in the use of traditional materials like brick and building systems (such as the Catalan vault) alongside the revival of Gothic elements. The technical innovations, including the use of iron and glass, and the unified design of the concert hall, integrating the audience and performers in a single space, are hallmarks of modernity shared with other contemporary venues like the Auditorium Building in Chicago.
The Palace of Catalan Music stands as a true manifesto of Modernism and the nationalistic pride of the era. Leading artists of the time collaborated on the project, showcasing the dynamism of Catalan society in the 20th century. The building harmoniously combines traditional construction, particularly Gothic influences, with the modernity of iron and glass.