Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre
19/03/2023.
[Barcelona] Spain
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
Octavio Mestre designs on this occasion the rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller, located in one of the most important streets of Barcelona, Gran Vía. Casa Oller is a building designed by the well-known modernist architect Pau Salvat i Espasa, located a few meters from the intersection with Passeig de Gràcia, which allows it a privileged location in the heart of Barcelona.
The expansion of Barcelona, initially and for almost a century misunderstood and reviled, has become in recent decades an inexhaustible and infinite source of studies, research and recovery of both its morphology and the mosaic built in each of its blocks. Studies such as those focused on the "Mansana de la discordia", a complex located a couple of blocks from the location of Casa Oller, only reflect a small part of the spectacular treasure that the expansion treasures.
The expansion of Barcelona, initially and for almost a century misunderstood and reviled, has become in recent decades an inexhaustible and infinite source of studies, research and recovery of both its morphology and the mosaic built in each of its blocks. Studies such as those focused on the "Mansana de la discordia", a complex located a couple of blocks from the location of Casa Oller, only reflect a small part of the spectacular treasure that the expansion treasures.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by José Juan Barba.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by José Juan Barba.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph by Cristina Reche.
Ground floor plan. Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre.
First floor plan. Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre.
Principal plan. Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre.
Attic plan. Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre.
Cover plan. Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre.
Third floors plan. Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre.
Facade. Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre.
Courtdyard. Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre.
Details. Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre.
Details. Rehabilitation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre.
The renovation project by Octavio Mestre Arquitectos intervenes and recovers Casa Oller, the work of the well-known modernist architect Pau Salvat i Espasa, from 1903. Being an intervention on an existing building (built by Eduard Fontseré, in 1871) its formal expression was more contained, which did not prevent an exterior of organic and natural decoration that characterizes one of the many stylistic and formal drifts of expression of Modernism. The façade decorated with plant motifs, wrought iron, ceramics and stained glass, among other elements, is just a minimal expression of the interesting cultural heritage that has also been recovered inside.
A work that in its beginnings was a complicated realization of having to intervene on its initial structure, changing its access from the front to the side in order to have access with a carriage, maintaining the nucleus of stairs, opening a central bay to create a patio, with the private access staircase to the main floor, in the manner of those of the large Gothic or modernist buildings built on Paseo de Gracia.
The initial transformation also involved the construction of two new floors and a new bay leading to the patio, to which an extraordinary gallery was later added.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
A work that in its beginnings was a complicated realization of having to intervene on its initial structure, changing its access from the front to the side in order to have access with a carriage, maintaining the nucleus of stairs, opening a central bay to create a patio, with the private access staircase to the main floor, in the manner of those of the large Gothic or modernist buildings built on Paseo de Gracia.
The initial transformation also involved the construction of two new floors and a new bay leading to the patio, to which an extraordinary gallery was later added.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Octavio Mestre has intervened carrying out a laborious, patient and delicate process of recovery of spaces and hundreds of elements, in which it has been necessary to involve numerous trades, ranging from plumbers, carpenters, ceramicists, specialists in hydraulic floors (to whom deserves special attention), painters, screen printers and sculptors, among many others.
Initially, the building was intended to be used as corporate offices and a business centre but after the events of recent years, it has become an architecture for luxury apartments with all kinds of facilities such as a social club, spa, gym, swimming pool and a roof terrace. with solarium.
Renovation of the modernist Casa Oller by Octavio Mestre. Photograph courtesy Casa Oller.
Description of project by Octavio Mestre
Casa Oller is a listed Modernist building, the work of Pau Salvat I Espasa, and is the result of an intervention on a pre-existing building that changed its access from front to side to have access by carriage, maintaining the nucleus of stairs, opened a central bay to create a patio, with a private access staircase to the main floor, as the large Gothic and modernist buildings on Paseo de Gracia had (it should be remembered that in rental houses, the promoter who built, normally lived on the main floor -hence, its name-, dedicating the rest of the floors to rent.
In turn, in order not to lose m2, he built a new bay, behind, which means that we have two 40 cm parallel walls (because the interior wall of the last bay to the patio, in its day, was a façade), and later the gallery was added. Casa Oller does not exhaust the buildable area granted by the regulations and could build a sixth floor, under the conditions established by the Or complaint.
After a failed attempt to rehabilitate the building as corporate offices and a business centre, the project now intends to rehabilitate the houses that were in their day to turn them into luxury apartments, devoting the basement to equipping the inhabitants (social club, spa, gym, etc.) and the roof terrace as a solarium and community pool.
More information
Architects
Octavio Mestre Arquitectos. Lead architect.- Octavio Mestre.
Proyect team
Studio architects.- Carlos Maurette, Chiara Gerini, Bernardita Jofre.
Collaborators
Structure.- Javier Monte.
Engineering / Installations.-Hector Fernández (OTP).
Engineering / Installations.-Hector Fernández (OTP).
Builder
Obras y Contratas, PENTA.
Developer
IRE RE GRAN VIA SLU, represent, by Carolina Perez, architect.
Area
2,744.45 m².
Dates
2021.
Location
España, 08010 Barcelona, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 658.
Budget
1.153 €/ m2.
Photography
Octavio Mestre OMA Octavio Mestre Arquitectos
Octavio Mestre graduated as an architect from the Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB). In addition to running his practice, OMA Octavio Mestre Arquitectos, he has taught at several national and international architecture schools and is a founding member of the School of Architecture at the International University of Catalonia (UIC). Octavio Mestre has published numerous books on architecture and currently co-directs the digital magazine t18.
OMA Octavio Mestre Arquitectos also includes architects Bernadita Jofre (1993), Sofía Simioni, and Pablo Mera (1995).
OMA Octavio Mestre Arquitectos also includes architects Bernadita Jofre (1993), Sofía Simioni, and Pablo Mera (1995).
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