Completed in 2023, Casa Alesan enhances Barcelona’s prestigious Passeig de Sant Joan, showcasing the city’s rich architectural heritage and its forward-looking approach to urban living. This iconic Art Nouveau building, originally commissioned in 1902 by Dolors Alesan and designed by Enric Fatjó i Torras, is celebrated for its intricate decorative arts that grace both its façade and interiors. Adorned with ornate stucco and stone sculptures, elegant metalwork, and stained glass, Casa Alesan is a true highlight within Barcelona’s architectural landscape, further enriched by its proximity to the famed “Palau Macaya” by Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
Casa Alesan Technical Information
- Renovation Architects1-6: BACH / Jaume Bach, Anna & Eugeni Bach
- Founding Architect: Enric Fatjó i Torras
- Location: Passeig de Sant Joan, 110, Barcelona, Spain
- Topics: Renovations, Art Nouveau
- Area: 2,450 m2
- Renovation Completion Year: 2023
- Photographs: © Eugeni Bach
The biggest challenge of the project was how to go from 8 to 18 apartments and at the same time preserve the character of the property and restore all the decorative elements that make it so special without distorting the original spaces.
– BACH Architects
Casa Alesan Photographs
Preserving Heritage, Embracing Modernity
In December 2023, Casa Alesan unveiled its latest transformation, a meticulous refurbishment, restoration, and extension project led by BACH architects—Jaume Bach, Anna, and Eugeni Bach. This ambitious project not only sought to preserve the building’s historical essence but also to adapt it to contemporary needs, expanding its original 8 apartments into a modern ensemble of 18 luxurious dwellings, including two innovative duplexes crowning the structure.
The challenge was monumental: how to increase the property’s capacity without compromising its architectural integrity or the detailed beauty of its decorative elements. The solution lies in a delicate balance of respect for tradition and the embrace of modernity. The architects embarked on a rigorous process of surveying and cataloging each historical feature, ensuring that the restoration honored the building’s original splendor. The façades and communal spaces were revitalized, highlighting the exquisite craftsmanship of the past.
Inside, the redesign of the apartments showcases an ingenious approach to space. The new layouts maintain the perimeter of the original floors and ceilings, introducing volumetric elements that do not extend to full height. This strategy allows for the reconfiguration of living spaces without altering the historical floors and ceilings, preserving the essence of the original design while providing the flexibility required for modern urban living.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the renovation is the addition of two duplex apartments atop the building. The architects opted for a design that is abstract yet respectful, featuring a façade of vertical circular ceramic slats. This innovative choice not only adds a contemporary flair to the building but also creates a visual and chromatic harmony with the historic fabric below and the adjacent “Palau Macaya.” The use of ceramic slats lends a sense of lightness to the new structure, allowing it to seamlessly integrate with its venerable surroundings.
Casa Alesan’s revitalization showcases architectural innovation, illustrating the synergy between historical preservation and contemporary development. This project serves as a model for urban regeneration, blending past and present to forge a living space that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
Casa Alesan Plans
Casa Alesan Image Gallery
About BACH
Jaume Bach Núñez, born in Sabadell in 1943, is an architect and professor who graduated from the Escola Tècnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona in 1969. With a career that began in 1968, Jaume has made significant contributions to both architecture and urbanism, founding Bach Arquitectes S.L.P in 1988. His academic and professional journey includes teaching at ETSAB since 1970, participating as a jury member in prestigious competitions, and serving as a visiting professor globally.
Anna & Eugeni Bach, a Finnish-Spanish architecture studio based in Barcelona, extends his legacy, engaging in a wide array of projects from urban design to interior and object design. Their work, recognized internationally through exhibitions like the Venice Architecture Biennale and curatorial projects such as the XVth Spanish Architecture and Urbanism Biennial, reflects a profound commitment to exploring the spatial perception and promoting architectural values across society.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Collaborators: Roger Molas (Project architect), Laura Alconero, Verónica Amorós, Mário Sousa, Silvia Ripoll, Clara Sanfeliu (studio architects)
- Structural Engineers: Masala Consultants
- MEP Engineers: Atres80
- Project management and quantity surveyor: BetArq
- Name of the promoter: Casa Alesan, SL
- Builder: UCSA
- Area per floor: 340 m2
- Original floor housing area: 80 m2
- Duplex housing expansion area: 190 m2
