The Eixample, a plan surrounded by controversy

The urban expansion of Barcelona in the 19th century, which gave rise to the famous “Ensanche” or “Eixample”, was driven by significant social and political changes. These manifested in the design for La Carbonería, making it one of the most reliable testimonies of the historical moment when the city chose its path of transformation towards becoming the modern city we know today.

Two urban plans were on the table: the radial design by the architect Antoni Rovira i Trias, whose approach was to emphasise symbolic spaces and to separate social classes; and, the design by Ildefons Cerdà, a progressive engineer and politician who offered a holistic and egalitarian approach.

It took many years for the final decision to be reached and for Cerdà’s plan to be implemented. In the meantime, Narciso Tarragó Alexandri wished to build a residential building on his plot of land where La Carbonería now stands. The Camino de Ronda street ran alongside the medieval defensive wall and crossed directly through Alexandri’s plot. As a result, the architectural design of La Carbonería was highly influenced by the prevailing uncertainty as to which urban plan would be implemented: the design of the Cerdà blocks, which would bury the Camino de Ronda, or Rovira I Trias’ plan which included the creation of a new and important boulevard which would follow the Camino de Ronda’s existing route.

La Carbonería, in the eye of the storm

Narciso Tarragó Alexandri had to find an architectural solution to this dilemma if he did not want to wait indefinitely for the authorities’ decision. The answer was a design never to be repeated in the Eixample with two façades: a main one at Cerda’s intersection or “chamfer” of the two streets, and another facing the old Camino de Ronda and proposed boulevard. In this way, construction could start on La Carbonería regardless of which plan was implemented.

This solution had two key consequences. On the one hand, it considerably reduced the dimensions of the project. Thus, La Carbonería was built 8 metres wide, compared to the average of 20-23 metres in the Eixample and making it probably the narrowest building in this renowned district. On the other hand, this design brought better natural light into the apartments by increasing the number of windows, despite the fact that the fourth façade to the Camino de Ronda was ultimately “hidden” due to the implementation of Cerdà’s block design.

Years of decline and a new renaissance

There is little written about the building during the first half of the 20th century, apart from the fact that the coal company – which gave it the popular name of “La Carbonería” – closed its shutters in the 1950’s. Over the following decades, the historical character of the building was gradually forgotten, and its complete demolition was even considered.

Between 2008 and 2014, it was used as a self-managed social centre. Subsequently, it was closed and changed ownership on several occasions, giving way to years of abandonment and deterioration, impacting upon the local neighbourhood.

In 2015, the municipal council declared the building an Asset of Urban Interest due to its distinctive architectural character and high historical value. Two years later, Lesing LWP Spain acquired La Carbonería with the aim of renovating the property, restoring this unique historical value, and thereby also supporting the revival of the social and urban fabric of this area of the Eixample.