Restoring a unique example of Barcelona Modernism
Casa Heribert Pons is one of the most iconic examples of early 20th-century Modernista architecture in Barcelona. Located at 19 Rambla de Catalunya, in the heart of the Quadrat d’Or, it was designed in 1907 by architect Alexandre Soler as the residence of Heribert Pons, a member of one of Catalonia’s leading industrial families at the time.
Completed in 1909, the house has stood out since its construction for the quality of its materials, the richness of its ornamental features, and its distinctive Viennese Secession influence. The building received the highest distinction in the Barcelona City Council's 1910 building competition and is currently listed as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest.
Over the course of more than a century, the building has undergone various changes in use, alterations, and conservation work. It has survived damage sustained during the Spanish Civil War, several renovations, and, most notably, a proposed demolition in the 1970s, which sparked a major campaign to protect Barcelona’s Art Nouveau heritage.
At Grup NN, we acquired the building in May 2025, renewing our commitment to restoring and protecting this heritage asset. The project marks a new chapter for a building that forms part of Barcelona’s architectural and urban heritage.
Casa Pons stands out both for its architecture and for the richness of its artistic features. The building comprises a ground floor, main floor, three upper floors, an attic, and a rooftop terrace, while its façade combines an orderly composition of lines with carefully crafted ornamentation. The large bay window, balconies adorned with floral garlands, upper turret, and two stone figures crowning the building are among its most distinctive features. Inside, the marble entrance hall and grand staircase preserve the monumentality with which the residence was conceived.
This desire to integrate architecture and art is particularly evident in the work of Eusebi Arnau. On the façade, four bas-reliefs represent Painting, Sculpture, Music, and Architecture, while inside, at the foot of the grand staircase, stands Diana the Huntress, also created by the sculptor. These elements are an essential part of the identity of Casa Heribert Pons and demonstrate the importance accorded to the arts.
But the value of Casa Pons is also tied to its history. After Heribert Pons left in 1927, the building served various purposes and suffered extensive damage during the Spanish Civil War. In 1973, it was even threatened with demolition, but a campaign by architects and representatives of Barcelona’s cultural community managed to save it and helped promote greater protection for the city’s Modernista heritage. The Generalitat subsequently carried out a comprehensive restoration that preserved its main features.
More than a century after it was built, Casa Heribert Pons remains a unique part of Barcelona’s architectural heritage, both for its architecture and artistic features and for the history that has accompanied the building to the present day.
Sources
- Casa Heribert Pons. Analysis and description, Journey to Secret Barcelona, September 2025.
Bibliographic references
- Alexandre Soler i March, architect — Raquel Lacuesta Contreras.
- “The Case of the Pons Family” — Llorenç Ferrer Alòs, Social History, 2005.
- Riera Yearbook, General Guide to Catalonia, 1908.
- Criticart — Beli Artigas.
- Diana and the Atlanteans — Juan C. Bejarano, University of Barcelona.