Josep Fontserè

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Josep Fontserè

Josep Fontserè i Mestre (* 1829 in Barcelona ; † 1897 in Barcelona) was a Catalan builder ( mestre d'obres ). Stylistically, Fontserès buildings belong to late historicism . But he is considered to be an important pioneer of modernism , especially with the iron structures of the umbracle ('shadow house') in the Parc de la Ciutadella and the Mercat del Born .

Biographical data

Josep Fontserè was the son of the carpenter and architect Josep Fontserè i Domènech and brother of the builder Eduard Fontserè. He attended the trade school of the Junta de Comerç (trade association) in the stock exchange building in Barcelona, ​​then the master builder school. He received his master builder license in 1853. His first major work was the renovation of the Theater Olimp . In the meantime he worked as an assistant to Ildefons Cerdà on road projects.

Competition design for the development of the Eixample

In 1859 he received the third honorable mention in the competition for the urban expansion of Barcelona (corresponds to 4th place). The winner of the competition was Antoni Rovira i Trias , but ultimately the Pla Cerdà was carried out by Ildefons Cerdà. In 1869 another theater designed by Fontserè was opened, the Teatre Circ Barcelonès . (The old Teatre Circ by Antoni Rovira i Trias burned down in 1863) In 1870, Fontserè won the competition for the development of the Parc de la Ciutadella and in the following years built the park, the fencing with wrought iron gates, the cascade fountain, with sculptures by Joan Flotats , Llorenç Matamala and Rossend Nobas , a water tank, a milk drinking hall , a café and the umbracle (shadow house). Antoni Gaudí was working as a student in Fontserès' office during this time and was involved in the design of the enclosure and the cascade fountain. He also recalculated the statics for the water storage tank and received the statics certificate without having to take an exam.

Due to an intrigue, Fontserè had to resign as head of work in the park. In 1888 the world exhibition was held on the site . For this purpose, Fontserès Cafe was demolished and in its place the Café del Parc was built by Lluís Domènech i Montaner , now known as Castell dels Tres Dragons . Fonterès Umbracle was rebuilt in 1886 by Jaume Gustà i Bondia , but restored to its original state in 1888 for the World Exhibition by Josep Amargós i Samaranch .

1873–1876 Josep Fontserè built the Mercat del Born , the first large iron structure in Barcelona.

He is also the author of the gardens of Torre Melina (1875) and several houses in Barcelona, ​​in 1886 he renovated the premises of the Cercle del Liceu . In Cambrils he built the Parc Samà , in Xerta he is assigned the Villa Retiro , a luxurious villa in the colonial style influenced by modernism.

Works

Main works in Barcelona :

  • Reconstruction of the Teatre Circ Barcelonès (1869)
  • Parc de la Ciudatella :
    • Cascade fountain (1874–1882)
    • Water reservoir (1874–1877)
    • Vaqueria (milk drinking hall , 1882)
    • Umbracle (shadow house, 1883)
  • Mercat del Born (1876, based on a design by Antoni Rovira i Trias )
  • Restoration of the rooms of the Cercle del Liceu in the Gran Teatre del Liceu
  • Casa del Marquès de Santa Isabel
  • Casa Ignasi Girona

Outside of Barcelona:

Picture gallery

  • Umbracle

  • Cascade fountain

  • Cascade fountain

  • Water reservoir, now a library

  • Mercat del Born

  • Parc Samà, Cambrils

  • Villa Retiro, Xerta

Individual evidence

  1. ^ La Vanguardia, May 16, 1897: Don José Fontseré
  2. ↑ a b La Vanguardia, May 23, 1897: De don José Fontseré y Mestre ...
  3. ↑ a b some sources, e.g. B. www.poblesdecatalunya.cat name Antoni Rovira i Trias as the architect of the market hall, and Josep Fontserè as the building master, with Josep Cornet i Mas as the engineer. The search engine for the Patrimoni Arquitèctonic of the city council of Barcelona only names Josep Fontserè as the author, together with Josep Cornet i Mas.
  4. ↑ epdlp.com: Josep Fontseré i Mestre

Web links

Commons : Josep Fontserè i Mestre  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Fontserè, Josep
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Fontserè i Mestre, Josep (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Spanish architect of Catalan modernism
DATE OF BIRTH 1829
PLACE OF BIRTH Barcelona
DATE OF DEATH before May 16, 1897
Place of death Barcelona