We often associate Antoni Gaudí with Barcelona and his iconic masterpieces, such as La Sagrada Familia or Park Güell. However, its influence extends beyond Barcelona and the borders of Catalonia. And one of them is the Chalet del Catllaràs, Gaudí’s building located at the entrance of the Pyrenees.
It is located at 1,500 meters above sea level and preserves all the essence of the great Catalan architect. However, it is a construction unknown to many.
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Located in the middle of the Catllaràs mountain range, in the municipality of La Pobla de Lillet, the Chalet del Catllaràs is a work that reflects the influence of Gaudí. Although its architectural style is not typically “Gaudinian”, the building is closely related to the Güell family, Gaudí’s patrons.
History of the Chalet del Catllaràs
The commission to build the Chalet del Catllaràs came from the Güell family, who owned coal mines in the area. These mines supplied the Asland cement factory in Castellar de n’Hug, owned by the Güell family.
As a result, a residence was needed for engineers working in the mines. In 1902, construction began on this building, which, over time, has lost its original use.
The Chalet del Catllaràs has some modernist features typical of Gaudí, such as the use of windows to let in natural light. However, these windows are more square than the elongated ones known in his works.
There is also a spiral staircase with square exits, although this feature is more typical of Puig y Cadafalch’s Casa Amatller than of Gaudí’s most emblematic works.
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Over the years, the building suffered significant neglect. Although it passed into the hands of the town council of La Pobla in the 1930s, by the 1970s it was already in ruins. For some time, it was used by colony schoolchildren until about a decade ago.
The Fundació Pere Tarrés was responsible for its use at that time. However, the building once again fell into disuse and was left in a deplorable state.
The restoration of the Chalet del Catllaràs became a reality in 2018 thanks to the recognition of the Diputació de Barcelona and the Generalitat as an Asset of Cultural Interest.
The traces of his art
The Chalet del Catllaràs still shows clear traces of the influence of the famous architect. In addition, near the Chalet, there is another proof of his passage through the area: the design of the garden of the Artigas family house abandoned in the 1950s.
The Chalet del Catllaràs is an architectural treasure nestled in the Catalan Pyrenees that demonstrates that Gaudí’s influence transcends the borders of Barcelona and Catalonia.
Where the Chalet del Catllaràs is?
La Pobla de Lillet, Barcelona
