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Modernist itinerary

Unlock the architectural legacy of Josep Maria Jujol Gibert. Join this tour through the city of Sant Joan Despí as we explore the secret gems of this “total artist”. By using techniques like “trencadís”, sgrato, sculpture and painting, he imposed a new architectural style. The content and form of his work emerge from his rich inner world.

Jujol route is a proposal in order to get to know the religious meaning of his masterpieces, recycling art, colour, volatility of forge, applied arts and the boundless imagination of this architect. Nature is his first and most important source of inspiration, thus he cannot be defined as either modernist or expressionist. The quality of his work defies conventions.

The summer house built next to the train station can be considered the beginning of the relationship between Jujol and the city of Sant Joan Despí. As a result of the construction of Torre de la Creu, he established friendship bonds with the village citizens, and he became the municipal architect during the last twenty years of his life. The masterpieces of the architect were born from the experimentation in rural architecture: Torre de la Creu, Can Negre and the Serra-Xaus house.

You will definitely discover spaces that are loaded with history and slowly unfold their magic.

Itinerary's map

ITINERARY

CAN NEGRE (1915-1930)

Can Negre

This building is one of the most important remodelations of Jujol in Sant Joan Despí. The façade has a religious sgrato inscription and also a balcony that is locked like a carriage, creating a metaphor or ode to the Virgin Mary. The owner, Pere Negre, ordered Jujol an adaptation of his seventeenth century farmhouse to a holiday house. The interior of the building has a remakably chapel and staircase.

 

TORRE DE LA CREU (1913)

Torre de la Creu

The house formed by five cylinders is the first Jujol’s building in Sant Joan Despí. The developter was Josefa Romeu, Jujol’s aunt. In the agricultural society of the time, this edifice created a visual impact. Jujol proposes a building without any stylistic limitations.

 

TORRE JUJOL (1932)

Torre Jujol

During Jujol relation with the town, the architect built his home in order to control the constructions in progress. The building is formed by two L-shaped houses and it is decorated by deep blue sgrato, Jujol's favourite colour. The inscription above the door ”Déu hi sia” (God is here) is a reminder that he was a deeply religious man.

 

CASA SERRA-XAUS (1921)

Casa Serra Xaus

This building is the most modern shaped house in the legacy of Sant Joan Despí. The straight line is the one that prevails in all of the areas of the building. The decoration is based on deep blue and red sgratos, with a pair of ducks in a symmetrical composition above the windows.

 

CASA ROVIRA (1926)

Casa Rovira

Jujol made a façade dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. This façade is decorated by sgrafittos dadicated to the field and fruit. The main features are the date (anno domini 1926) and the signature of Jujol accompanied by the annagram ARQ (architect).

 

CHURCH OF SANT JOAN BAPTISTA (1943)

Church of Saint John Baptist

Jujol religious work is based on symbolism, colorful decoration and natural forms. Inside the church of Saint John Baptist we can find examples of incriptions, such as the biblical phrases on pulpits, glass windows with eucaristic representations, and a tabernacle with fransiscano symbolism among her examples of painting and forging.


DOOR OF THE  WORKSHOP OF THE BLACKSMITH JOSEP OLIVER (1889-1966)

Door of  the workshop of  blacksmith Josep Oliver

Door of the workshop of blacksmith Josep Oliver, who worked with Jujol. We can find the influence that Jujol made on the artisans who worked with him. The door is decorated with a peacock and a snake, which works as a door handle.

VISITS

Guided tour on the last Sunday of each month with prior telephone consultation on phone 93 373 73 63 or by email: cannegre@sjdespi.net

For group visits or groups on dates to be determined it is also necessary to call the phone 93 373 73 63 or send an email to: cannegre@sjdespi.net

Schedule guided tours:

Itinerary: Starting point Can Negre at 11 a.m.

L'agenda, al dia

November 2021

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