Gema Martí: “Gaudí and Domènech i Montaner had a good relationship, they helped and supported each other”
El Centre d’Estudis Lluis Domènech i Montaner (CEDIM) ha publicado la obra “Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1849-1923). Obra arquitectónica razonada”, un gran estudio que ve la luz tras muchos años de investigación y búsqueda en archivos y fondos documentales sobre la figura de Domènech i Montaner, arquitecto, entre muchas otras obres, de la Casa Lleó i Morera. El libro, de 772 páginas, contiene un texto introductorio razonado de la obra domenechiana y el estudio de todos los edificios y proyectos que Domènech ideó en Barcelona, Badalona, Balaguer y Bilbao. En el acto de presentación, celebrado en la Sala de Ensayo del Palau de la Música, tuvimos la oportunidad de charlar brevemente con Gema Martí, co-autora del libro (junto a Sergi Alcalde, Maite Carbonell, Xavier Mas, Carles Saiz, Pilar Salmerón y Miquel Terreu) y miembro del CEDIM, además de restauradora de bienes culturales. Durante la conversación pudimos saber más sobre el CEDIM, sobre la casa Lleó i Morera y sobre la “rivalidad” entre los constructores de la llamada Manzana de la Discordia.
How was the Centre d’Estudis Domènech i Montaner founded and what is its purpose?
The Lluis Domènech i Montaner Centre d’Estudis was established in April 2013 with the aim of studying the entire body of work and projects of Lluis Domènech i Montaner, and to properly acknowledge his place in history. We believe he is an important figure in Modernism, although he also excelled in other fields, and has been overlooked for many years. One of the main reasons may be political, as he was one of the most significant figures in Catalan nationalism and for a long time was relegated to the background. The Centre's goal is to study and delve deeper into Domènech's work and persona to disseminate it to the general public.
Según sus investigaciones ¿qué importancia tendría la Casa Lleó i Morera dentro de la arquitectura domenechiana?
It is undoubtedly one of the main works, along with Casa Navàs, an example of bourgeois housing. It belongs to his floral period, which is perhaps the most characteristic part of Domènech i Montaner. In this context, Casa Lleó i Morera is one of the representatives and one of the most important of this period, as a model of bourgeois house. It was a multi-story building where the owners lived on the main floor, a fact that marks the profound decoration of its interiors and the rest of the floors.
Nestled in a specific location on Paseo de Gracia, Casa Lleó i Morera is situated next to Casa Amatller and Casa Batlló, in an area known as the 'Block of Discord'. Does this rivalry or controversy among Puig i Cadafalch, Gaudí, and Domènech i Montaner stem from public opinion or from the architects themselves?
As you rightly point out, this controversy arose from public opinion. Many people say that Gaudí and Domènech did not get along well... We have evidence that this is not true. They had a good relationship and, therefore, helped each other. Antoni Gaudí was a student of Domènech. We have also found that on the day Domènech i Montaner died, there was a large crowd at the procession and Gaudí was one of the figures who attended his funeral.
There were indeed some disagreements with Puig i Cadafalch, whether on a political level or regarding the study of Romanesque art. But apart from that, there were no problems between them.
A couple of years ago, the open house days at the Sant Pau Hospital were a success. Recently, La Rotonda was also opened to the public with 6,000 participants in one weekend. These figures indicate a strong interest in Modernism in Barcelona. Don't you think?
Yes, we agree. Barcelona is one of the most important cities that has modernist buildings. When the Casa Lleó i Morera was opened and rehabilitated for public visits, we saw that the Hospital de Sant Pau should also be included. The three mentioned cases were a success. That's why we believe that the same initiative should also be applied to other buildings and to properly recognize the work of Domènech i Montaner. This year we will celebrate the year of Puig i Cadafalch, and Domènech will be overshadowed. Therefore, from CEDIM we want him to be valued for what he is, the father of Modernism.
