Year Domènech 2023: a tribute to the father of architectural Modernism

The year 2023 draws to a close, and with it ends the Domènech i Montaner Year, coinciding with the centenary of his death in 1923. Throughout this year, various activities, symposiums, exhibitions, and guided tours have been carried out in tribute to this key figure of Catalan Modernist architecture. Domènech i Montaner, known worldwide for works such as the Palau de la Música and the Modernist Compound of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, left a legacy in the form of works in diverse locations such as Canet de Mar, Reus, Olot, Palma de Mallorca, Santander, or Comillas.

Just as it happened in ancient Greece with Socrates and Plato, Domènech i Montaner and Antoni Gaudí were teacher and student, respectively. However, just like with the philosophers, Gaudí's figure has ultimately overshadowed that of Domènech. Fortunately, in recent times, the advocates of the genius from Canet de Mar (1849-1923) have been able to defend his legacy and claim a role that goes beyond the buildings he designed. Historian, politician, writer, publisher... and of course, architect. In the purest Leonardo Da Vinci style, Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1849-1923) was prolific in various disciplines, although it was architecture that assured him immortality. Considered by many as the true father of Modernism, he directed the Barcelona School of Architecture, where he trained figures such as Gaudí and Puig i Cadafalch.

Architecture in Barcelona was a discipline learned mostly through practice, culminating with the title of master builder. That was until 1868, when the Provincial Academy of Fine Arts received authorization to create a school of Architecture. Lluís Domènech would enroll in that school in 1869, but for various reasons had to move to Madrid, where he obtained the title of architect in 1873.

His prolific legacy began immediately, in 1874, with a monument created for the pantheon of Anselm Clavé. A year later, he became the youngest professor at the School of Architecture. He was only 26 years old and was just taking off. Domènech had already made a name for himself in the Barcelona of that time, and commissions were piling up and almost coinciding in time: the renovation of the Sant Gervasi church, the confectionery of the Ateneu Barcelonès, the Domènech house in the current Jardinets de Gràcia... Thus, little by little, Domènech i Montaner perfected his technique, experimenting and combining here and there in the search for a new architectural style, one that was identity-driven and national, which would ultimately crystallize in the Palau de la Música and the Hospital de Sant Pau. The genius of Domènech i Montaner was not only manifested in his monumental creations but also in his ability to forge brilliant minds like those of Gaudí and Puig i Cadafalch, leaving an indelible mark on the architectural landscape.

Domènech i Montaner, Gaudí, and Puig i Cadafalch, as professional colleagues, coincided at "the block of discord", a section of Passeig de Gràcia where the Casa Batlló (Gaudí), Casa Amatller (Puig i Cadafalch), and Casa Lleó Morera (Domènech i Montaner) were erected, almost simultaneously. Despite the supposed rivalry that the public opinion of the time wanted to sell, the truth is that there was a relationship of respect and admiration among them. It is known that they helped each other. Moreover, Gaudí paid tribute to his master in the Casa Batlló by replicating the tower with a cross that crowns the roof of the building.The presence of the genius from Reus in the funeral procession that accompanied Domènech i Montaner in 1923 is also documented.

Talking about legacy is not bold, considering that he left for posterity almost seventy works, including reforms and new constructions, endowing them with a style and a unique, almost visionary point of view, whose influence endures in the majestic structures that adorn cities and captivate gazes. The ones that gather the most flashes along with the Casa Lleó i Morera on Passeig de Gràcia, are undoubtedly the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, true stone testimonies of his genius. Both venues have been recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO and represent the perfect fusion between functionality and beauty, with decorative elements and a symbolism that goes beyond mere architectural purpose. The Palau, with its exuberant modernist ornamentation, is a tribute to music and Catalan culture, while the Hospital stands as a monument to humanity, combining architecture and functionality to create an innovative and welcoming healing space.

These are his most notable works, but there are more, many more. Just in Barcelona, over thirty, some as remarkable as the Montaner i Simón Publishing House, now the Antoni Tàpies Foundation, the Montaner Palace, Casa Fuster, the Ardiaca House, and, of course, the Casa Lleó i Morera, a building refurbished by Núñez i Navarro in 2006. From the Group, in line with our heritage rehabilitation area, a prominent project was initiated that allowed the modernization of the facilities, respecting the original style of the building, and achieving a rehabilitation that once again highlighted our commitment to recovering historic buildings in Barcelona.

The Casa Lleó i Morera is one of the main works of Domènech i Montaner, along with the Casa Navàs in Reus, representing an example of bourgeois housing. It belongs to his floral period, which is perhaps the most characteristic part of Domènech i Montaner's work. In this context, the Casa Lleó i Morera is 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 deep decoration of its interiors. The work was awarded in 1905 for its innovation, both in its interior and its facade.

Although Domènech i Montaner's work is more prominent in Barcelona, we cannot overlook the traces found in other municipalities, such as Reus, Lleida, Tarragona, Olot, Santander, Canet de Mar, or Comillas, in Cantabria. It is in the last two where we find some of the most unique buildings. Born in Barcelona, Lluís Domènech used to spend his summers in Canet de Mar, the hometown of his maternal family. The town in the Maresme region not only became his summer retreat but also earned him work opportunities that have lasted to this day. These places offer a different view of his style, rooted in identity and innovation, demonstrating his ability to leave a distinctive mark in various settings: the Casa Roura, commissioned by his brothers-in-law as a summer residence; the Domènech house, which, after various uses, has been converted into the Casa-Museu Domènech i Montaner, and the crown jewel: the 'Castell de Santa Florentina',one of the most important projects of Lluís Domènech i Montaner. This last one began as a rehabilitation proposal commissioned by his uncle, the publisher Ramon Montaner i Vila. What at the end of the 19th century started as a respectful and faithful rehabilitation to the medieval style of the building, continued into the 20th century with an expansion of the castle, adding an annexed palace, which is well worth a getaway to discover.

Regarding his 'Cantabrian adventure', Domènech i Montaner was fortunate to carry out two projects that to this day continue to draw hundreds and hundreds of tourists to Comillas. In 1883, the Marquis of Comillas commissioned the project of the Pontifical Seminary of the Cantabrian town to the architect Joan Martorell, who in turn entrusted the construction management to the master builder Cristóbal Cascante, who would die before finishing his work. Following Martorell's advice, the Marquis would entrust its completion to Domènech i Montaner who not only successfully finished it, but also completed the interior decoration, as well as that of the most noble rooms. The result was so pleasing to the Marquis of Comillas that, parallel to these works, he also commissioned the renovation of the cemetery, famous for its sculpture of the Exterminating Angel.

The Domènech Year 2023 has been an enlightening journey that has brought to light fascinating stories, such as those of Comillas or the Castell de Santa Florentina, preventing them from being forgotten. This commemoration, spanning from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca, has transcended time and space. It has honored the legacy of Domènech i Montaner with exhibitions, conferences, routes, and cultural events. It offers us a unique window to closely explore the genius, inspiration, and enduring impact of an architect who, beyond his mastery in construction, left an indelible mark on history, a vision that transformed architecture, and a legacy that continues in the stones and stories still being told about him.