Jujol Centre – Can Negre facts for kids
Can Negre is a special old house, built in the 1600s. It's a type of traditional Catalan farmhouse called a masia. You can find it in a town called Sant Joan Despí. A famous architect named Josep Maria Jujol, known for his unique Art Nouveau style, updated and changed the house between 1915 and 1930.
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History of Can Negre
At the start of the 1900s, a lawyer and landowner named Pere Negre i Jover owned the house. He asked architect Josep Maria Jujol to renovate it.
Turning a Farmhouse into a Mansion
The first plan for Can Negre was to change it from a simple farmhouse. It needed to fit into the new, more modern area of Sant Joan Despí. The goal was to turn it into a fancy house for an important person.
Jujol's work happened in different stages. This was done to match the owner's budget.
- The first part was the main renovation, from 1915 to 1917.
- Then came an extension, adding more parts to the house, from 1917 to 1921.
- Finally, the house was decorated with beautiful designs from 1920 to 1926.
Can Negre Today
In 1966, the Negre family gave the house to the Sant Joan Despí Town Council. Later, in 1982, architects Antoni Navarro, Gabriel Robert, and Xavier Güell started planning how to fix it up. The house was fully restored between 1984 and 1990. Architect Francesc Xavier Asarta led this big project.
Today, the town council still owns Can Negre. Many cultural events and activities happen there. It is also home to the Jujol Centre – Can Negre. This center is part of the Barcelona Provincial Council Local Museum Network.
The Building's Design
The front of Can Negre is very special. It has wavy lines at the top, like old Baroque buildings. The original openings for windows and doors were kept. However, they were given a new, unique style. For example, the main bay window is shaped like a surprising carriage!
Special Details and Decorations
A decorative edge runs along the curved top of the house. It has five round medallions. These medallions spell out a Latin phrase: Ave gratia plena dominus tecum. This means "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you."
The house is decorated with many different materials. These include:
- Sgraffiti: Designs scratched into plaster.
- Trencadís: Mosaics made from broken pieces of tile.
- Wood.
- Iron.
- Gypsum (a soft mineral).
Inside the House
Inside Can Negre, one of the most amazing parts is the spiral staircase. It twists upwards and is topped with an eight-sided dome. There is also a small chapel inside. It has an oval shape and a Baroque style.
See also
In Spanish: Centro Jujol - Can Negre para niños
