| A
building between two others, destined for commerce and
housing, commissioned by the children of Pere Màrtir
Calvet, industrialists who were dedicated to textile manufacturing
and who were a clear example of a newly emerging social
class: the bourgeoisie. For this reason, the Calvets had
the house built on Carrer Casp, considered at that time
a select street.
The
building consists of six levels (basement, ground floor,
mezzanine, and three floors) maintaining the structural
typology of other buildings of the same period: the
bottom floors were designated for the family business,
the mezzanine was for the owners’ residence, and
the rest of the floors were to rent. Gaudí did,
however, incorporate new solutions; the exterior has
a carefully-treated facade, which has a great deal of
movement thanks to various balconies and a spectacular
entablature, and the interior has a staircase with two
interior patios that let light into the interiors of
the floors. Other aspects of the interior that stand
out are the decoration of the entryway, the design of
the elevator, and that of several functional elements,
such as doorknobs, peepholes, and handles. The management
office and the offices of the owners’ textile company
are also significant; Gaudí designed easy chairs,
tables, and chairs adapted to the anatomy of the human
body for them.
Casa
Calvet remains a private residence and the ground floor
houses, as it has for many years, a restoration establishment
that has preserved many of its original elements.
Award from the Barcelona City Hall for the best housing
building in 1900.
Cultural Item of National Interest since 1969.
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