It’s funny how things turn out. When Puig i Cadafalch, one of the best architects of Catalan modernism, designed this building with its oriental influences, little could he have imagined that a century later it would house the Casa Asia – a public institution for the promotion of relations with the Asian world in institutional, cultural, academia and economic fields.
Built between 1904 and 1906, and catalogued as a Historical and Artistic Monument of National Interest, the Palau Baró de Quadras is full of surprises.
When Puig i Cadafalch, one of the great architects of Catalan modernism, designed this building for the Baron de Quadras, the official title of textile industrialist Manuel de Quadras i Feliu, few could imagine the different uses that would eventually be made of this splendid palace. From the new residence of the Baron in Barcelona, to the Museum of Music, in 1980, or main offices of Casa Asia from 2003 to 2013. It is currently the head offices of the Institut Ramon Llul, a public body dedicated to the promotion of the academic study of Catalan language and culture.
Built between 1904 and 1906 and listed as a historic-artistic monument of national interest, the Palau Baró de Quadras is full of surprises.
To begin with, as a result of its narrowness the building features two completely different façades. The main one, which leads onto Avinguda Diagonal, pays tribute to its status as a palace, with rich Gothic and Plateresque ornamentation, a highlight of which is the wrought-iron gate. The façade that faces onto Carrer Roussillon, on the other hand, is more conventional and bears more resemblance to an apartment building.
The mere opportunity to contemplate the wealth of detail both outside and inside makes this a worthwhile visit. The exterior offers the visitor a chance to contemplate a magnificent, richly-adorned stone work of leaves, flowers, dragons and fantasy figures, including St. George and the dragon...
And on the inside, the Roman mosaics, polychrome wood elements, wood sgraffito and latticework all have a distinctly Oriental, exotic style. An exotic wonder in the heart of Barcelona.
If you have the opportunity to visit this impressive palace we recommend to book in advance, as it would be a shame to arrive only to find it is fully booked. So now you know, take a trip through Modernist Barcelona of the early 20th century and visit this wonderful building by Puig and Cadafalch.
