Bellesguard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bellesguard
Alternative names	Casa Figueres
General information
Architectural style	Modernisme
Location	Barcelona, Spain
Design and construction
Architect	Antoni Gaudí
Spanish Property of Cultural Interest
Type:	Non-movable
Criteria:	Monument
Designated:	24 July 1969
Reference #:	RI-51-0003817

Bellesguard (which means "Beautiful View" in Catalan), also called Casa Figueres, is a special house in Barcelona, Spain. It was designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. The house was built between 1900 and 1909. It's located in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi area of Barcelona.

The land where Bellesguard stands has a long history. It was once home to a country house belonging to Martin of Aragon, who was a king and count. Gaudí worked with other artists like Joan Rubió and Domènec Sugrañes i Gras. Sugrañes created the beautiful mosaics you can see on the house.

History of Bellesguard

From Castle to Modern Home

Gaudí got his ideas for Casa Figueres from an old medieval castle. This castle stood on the same spot in the early 1400s. King Martin of Aragon lived there. After he died, his wife, Margaret of Prades, owned the estate. Over time, the castle fell apart.

In 1900, a man named Jaume Figueres bought the land. He and his wife, María Sagues Molíns, asked Gaudí to design a new house. Only a few old walls and a patio from the castle were left. Gaudí wanted to keep the feel of the old castle. This is why the outside of the house looks a bit like a medieval fortress.

Gaudí also wanted the house to blend with nature. He used stone slate for the outside walls. The house has a mix of old Gothic styles and Gaudí's unique modern art. At this time, Gaudí was still developing his famous style. For example, Bellesguard has his well-known mosaic details. But it doesn't have the bright colors or Moorish designs seen in his later works.

Building Challenges and New Owners

Gaudí was given a lot of freedom to design this house. It was meant to be a second home for the Figueres family. However, this freedom caused some problems. Mr. Figueres died before the house was finished. His wife, María, had to take over. She became frustrated with the constant delays. Gaudí spent a lot of time on small details, like placing tiny mosaic pieces.

These details make the house beautiful today. But they also made the building take a long time and cost a lot of money. Mrs. Molíns could never actually live in the house. She even had to sell it to avoid going bankrupt.

The house changed owners several times. Then, in 1944, the Guilera family bought it. They have owned it for over 70 years. Dr. Lluís Guilera Molas first bought Casa Figueres. He wanted to turn it into a modern hospital for cancer treatment. Many people from Barcelona were born in Casa Figueres when it was a hospital.

In 1974, the hospital moved to a new place. Since then, Bellesguard has been a private home, just as Gaudí planned.

Opening to the Public

For many years, the Guilera family allowed visitors to walk in the gardens. People often asked to see inside the house. The family realized the house needed repairs. They also saw how popular it was with visitors. So, in 2009, they decided to open their home to the public.

Opening the house for tours helped them pay for its upkeep. It also helped preserve this historic building. In September 2013, the Guilera family officially started offering tours. Visitors can now explore the inside and learn about its history and design.

What Bellesguard Looks Like

Outside the House

Casa Figueres is mostly built from stone and brick. It has a square base, about 15 meters by 15 meters. It stands 19.5 meters tall. The outside of the house looks more like an old Gothic building. This was Gaudí's way of honoring the medieval castle that was once there.

Gaudí used more straight lines in this design, which is unusual for him. You can see these straight lines on the walls. The famous tower, called Torre Bellesguard, stands tall from one corner. It makes the building look even taller. The tower is very recognizable. It has Gaudí's typical cross with four arms. This cross is decorated with red and yellow mosaics. These colors look like the Catalan flag.

At the bottom of the cross, there's a shape that looks like a crown. This might be Gaudí's way of showing respect for the site's connection to the old Crown of Aragon. Near the entrance, you can find a special message. It says, "Maria Purrisima sens pecat fou concebuda." This means "Purest Mary, conceived without sin." Above the main door, there is a beautiful stained glass window. It is shaped like an 8-pointed star of Venus.

Inside the House

The stained glass window at the entrance of Casa Figueres.

Casa Figueres has a ground floor, a main floor, a basement, and an attic. The inside of the house is different from the outside. It shows Gaudí's modern style. Gaudí placed many windows in unusual spots. This lets in a lot of natural light. The white walls also help make the rooms bright. This fits with his idea of connecting buildings with nature.

The entrance hall is very bright. This is thanks to the colorful glass in the window and the iron details. Many ceilings use a special way of building called the Catalan arch. This uses layers of bricks. From inside, you can see an iron support system. It looks like a spider-web and helps hold up the tower's top.

Also, only visible from the inside, is a dragon that Gaudí designed. It's on the terrace, as part of the tower's base. The slate roof details look like the dragon's tail. Raised parts create the illusion of nostrils. Two windows on either side of the dragon's "face" form its eyes.

The Gardens and Grounds

The grounds around the house still have parts of the 15th-century medieval castle. You can see some of the original walls. Even though Gaudí's new work looks similar, you can still tell the old parts apart.

At the garden entrance, there is a shield of the Crown of Aragon. It has two important dates carved into it. The first is 1409, when the original castle was finished. The second is 1909, when Gaudí's Torre Bellesguard was completed. The shield also has a rising sun. This symbolizes these two big historical moments.

The mosaic benches next to the house are decorated using a technique called Trancadís. These benches were made by Gaudí's helper, Domènec Sugrañes i Gras. His style is more even and Roman compared to Gaudí's more uneven approach. There is also an iron cross in the garden. People think Gaudí himself made it.

What's in a Name?

The name Bellesguard comes from the Catalan language. It means "Beautiful View." This is because the house is halfway up the Collserola mountain. From there, you can see wide views over the city of Barcelona. King Martin of Aragon gave the place this name in the 1400s. He had a summer home on the site back then.

Bellesguard is sometimes called Casa Figueres. This is because María Sagués, who was Jaume Figueres' wife, asked Gaudí to design the building in 1900. She really admired Gaudí's work.

Gallery

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  Bellesguard

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  Casa Figueres Terrace Dragon

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  Entrance

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  Seating area by the entrance, with mosaics from Domènec Sugrañes i Gras

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  Bellesguard scale model at Catalunya en Miniatura

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  Bellesguard Pinacle Cross

See also

In Spanish: Bellesguard para niños

• List of Modernisme buildings in Barcelona
• List of Gaudí buildings

Sources

• Rainer Zerbst - Antoni Gaudí, Taschen, 2002.