Casa Trinxet
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi

Casa Trinxet, a gem of early 20th-century architecture, once stood majestically on Carrer de Còrsega, 268, in the Eixample district of Barcelona. Designed by the renowned architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, this building was constructed between 1902 and 1904. Despite its eventual demolition in 1967, Casa Trinxet remains a significant symbol of Barcelona’s rich architectural heritage, blending modernist and rationalist styles with a distinct Sezession influence.

The History of Casa Trinxet

The story of Casa Trinxet begins with its owner, Avel·lí Trinxet i Casas, a prominent textile manufacturer from Vilanova i la Geltrú. Trinxet, who had a profound appreciation for the arts, commissioned Puig i Cadafalch to design this residence. The project commenced on March 25, 1902, and by 1904, the house was completed. The following year, it received an honorable mention in the annual artistic buildings competition held by the Barcelona City Council.

Trinxet, who had nine children from his first marriage, remarried Josepa Matheu after becoming a widower. The house was intended as a gift for his new wife. Tragically, Trinxet only enjoyed his new home for a few years, passing away on April 30, 1917. The house remained in the family’s possession but was used for various purposes over the years, including serving as a domestic training school for girls during the early Francoist period.

In the mid-1960s, the property was purchased by the real estate company Núñez i Navarro, which sparked significant opposition from the cultural and intellectual community. Despite a petition signed by 134 architects and artists, the building was demolished in March 1967 to make way for a modern office building. Elements of Casa Trinxet, such as its stained glass windows and sculptures, were salvaged and sold to collectors, while the murals by Joaquim Mir were divided and distributed among Trinxet’s heirs.

Architectural Marvels

Casa Trinxet was a rectangular building featuring a ground floor, an upper floor, and an attic. The facade, influenced by the Sezession style, was adorned with a base of stone blocks and ceramic relief decorations. The upper part of the facade was finished with white stucco and colorful floral garlands around the attic windows. The exterior also boasted lobed arch doorways and intricate wrought iron balconies, adding to the building’s unique charm.

The main entrance led to a central courtyard, reminiscent of a Roman domus, which served as the distribution point for the noble rooms on the ground floor. The courtyard was surrounded by stone columns with floral capitals, connected by lobed arches, and topped with a large skylight featuring stained glass in blue and yellow hues. The ground floor housed Avel·lí Trinxet’s office, several salons facing the street, and dining rooms adorned with murals by Joaquim Mir, overlooking the rear garden.

The upper floor contained the bedrooms, service areas, and an oratory with stained glass windows designed by Mir. The interior decoration was rich with floral motifs, from the esgrafiated garlands on the walls to the colorful garland-shaped lamps that framed the doors, windows, and fireplaces.

The Artistic Touch of Joaquim Mir

Avel·lí Trinxet’s nephew, Joaquim Mir i Trinxet, played a crucial role in the artistic embellishment of Casa Trinxet. Mir, an innovative painter, was commissioned to create murals for the dining rooms, bringing a vibrant and modern touch to the residence. This collaboration was part of a broader patronage relationship between Trinxet and Mir, which began around 1899 when Trinxet financed Mir’s artistic endeavors in exchange for his paintings.

Despite the eventual falling out between the two, Mir’s contributions to Casa Trinxet remained a testament to his artistic genius. The murals were later divided and distributed among Trinxet’s descendants, with some pieces finding their way into museums and private collections.

Legacy and Demolition

The demolition of Casa Trinxet marked a significant loss for Barcelona’s architectural heritage. The building’s destruction was a reflection of the period’s lack of sensitivity towards preserving historical structures. The cultural and architectural community’s efforts to save Casa Trinxet highlighted the need for greater protection of modernist buildings, which were often undervalued and at risk of being replaced by contemporary constructions.

Today, the legacy of Casa Trinxet lives on through the surviving elements that were salvaged and the memories of those who admired its beauty. The building remains a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving architectural heritage and the rich history it represents.