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La Ricarda

The southern front – morning reflections on the water, La Ricarda. Antonio Bonet Castellana, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain, 1953-63. Photo: courtesy of the Town Hall of El Prat de Llobregat

The entrance hall and the outside pond, with two BKF or butterfly chairs. La Ricarda, Antonio Bonet Castellana, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain, 1953-63. Photo: Asier Rua

The garden seen from the entrance and through the living room. La Ricarda, Antonio Bonet Castellana, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain, 1953-63. Photo: Asier Rua

The grey wall in the living room, and the wooden door to the entrance hall on the left. La Ricarda, Antonio Bonet Castellana, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain, 1953-63. Photo: Asier Rua

Afternoon reflections on the living room. La Ricarda, Antonio Bonet Castellana, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain, 1953-63. Photo: Asier Rua

Opacity and transparencies - the ceramic and coloured glass wall. La Ricarda, Antonio Bonet Castellana, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain, 1953-63. Photo: Asier Rua

The kitchen. La Ricarda, Antonio Bonet Castellana, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain, 1953-63. Photo: Asier Rua

Afternoon sun through the blinders. La Ricarda, Antonio Bonet Castellana, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain, 1953-63. Photo: Asier Rua

The porch reflected on the water at sunset. La Ricarda, Antonio Bonet Castellana, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain, 1953-63. Photo: Asier Rua

Winter shadows over the summer dining room. La Ricarda, Antonio Bonet Castellana, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain, 1953-63. Photo: Asier Rua

The southern front – morning reflections on the water, La Ricarda. Antonio Bonet Castellana, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain, 1953-63. Photo: courtesy of the Town Hall of El Prat de Llobregat

La Ricarda

Designed by the architect Antonio Bonet Castellana, through a long process 1949-1963, and in close collaboration with the owners, Mr. Ricardo Gomis and his wife Mrs. Inés Bertrand, the Gomis House, better known as La Ricarda, is perhaps the most emblematic example of rationalist architecture in Catalonia. It had to fit the necessities of a large family, combining private and common areas, plus a large living room that could be used as a concert hall. The house is located in the middle of a pine grove by the sea and near the city of Barcelona. A single module, 8,80 x 8,80 m., in which four slender steel pillars sustain a heavy wide vault, develops the architectural programme on ground floor level, house and garden working as a unit and in permanent dialogue. Bonet also designed furniture and fittings as the culmination of an entire creative process.

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Highlights

A floating undulating roof – as an immense extended porch – was the first image of what would develop into a house underneath. An independent pavilion module for the parents – a self contained apartment – away from the children's pavilion, each member in the family having his/her own private room. And then common spaces to share in between. La Ricarda is still the property of the Gomis Bertrand family. The house keeps all the original furniture and fittings, colours, materials and the garden design. Every item is still placed where architect and owner had decided. The children who grew up with the house are now guiding the visitors around. In spite of the territorial aggression through the enlargement of Barcelona International Airport, the house has not only kept its warmth and style, but is fully alive instilling all the original energy.

Insider's Guide

La Ricarda, the house of the Gomis Bertrand family is located only a 30 minutes' drive from downtown Barcelona. Apart from the many cultural centers in town there are many others in the surroundings worth a visit. There is Gaudí's Crypt of Colonia Güell church at Santa Coloma de Cervelló. Sitges village south of Barcelona has the Cau Ferrat Museum, Fundació Stämpfli of Contemporary Art, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Museum Victor Balaguer and Railway Museum. Sant Cugat has its gothic monastery. Terrassa is the town of woolen textile industry, with modernist Masia Freixa and pre-romanic churches. Montserrat has its Abbey, the Benedictine Community, Library, Museum, the Escolania (boy's choir), and many hiking trails in the fascinating mountain. Argentona, Mataró, Arenys de Mar and other small towns north of Barcelona have magnificent houses from the late 19th and early 20th century.

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