Modernism route: a look at the heritage of Gironella

Until the middle of the 19th century, life in the small town of Gironella continued to develop mainly on the left bank of the Llobregat river, within the old town. The economic and demographic boost provided by the textile factories was felt in the social vitality, but also in urban planning and in the construction of numerous buildings. The new and thriving Gironella, where the river became synonymous with wealth, expanded mainly on the other side of the river course, sheltered from the road from Sant Fruitós to Berga, and to the south, with the textile colonies. It is at this stage when the municipality acquires a large part of its current personality and appearance.

Of all the architectural wealth of Girona at this time, the itinerary highlights the residential character, although we find equally significant buildings for industrial use. There is a great variety of constructions, some of a noble character and others more modest, as well as a diversity of styles: modernist, historicist and others with a more eclectic or noucentist nature.

Two figures stand out in this panorama: Roc Cot i Cot (1865-1909) and Alexandre Soler i March (1873-1949), both held the position of municipal architect of the town and projected a good set of buildings in Gironella. Roc Cot y Cot was an architect of great versatility, a quality that allowed him to develop an eclectic style, alternating modernist works with others closer to the Noucentisme. It achieved great artistic expressiveness through the almost exclusive use of brick on the facades of some Girona buildings. Among the most prominent projects at the local level, we find Cal Claudi and Cal Vilamarí. However, a large part of his work was carried out in Berga and in Barcelona where he collaborated with Joan Alsina and Salvador Oller. Alexandre Soler i March developed his own style in which the influence of Domènec i Muntaner and his admiration for the medieval period, of which he was a passionate student, is evident. He is the architect of the new parish of Santa Eulalia and other buildings in the town are attributed to him, such as the Hotel (Av. Catalunya, 52) and the Torre del Amo del Cal Bassacs, an authentic jewel of Girona Modernism. His work has its epicenter in Manresa, although it also has projects of great relevance in Berga, Barcelona and Valencia.

Source: Gironella City Council