Casa Calvet (Calvet House), Barcelona

Calvet House, designed by Antoni Gaudí, presents a more conventional project compared to his more flamboyant counterparts like Batlló and Milà houses. This townhouse, nestled in the sophisticated Eixample district of Barcelona, was crafted between 1898 and 1900 for the textile mogul Pere Calvet. It combines commercial spaces on the lower floors with private residences above. This structure is noted for its symmetry and balanced composition, which were necessary due to its location between pre-existing buildings.

Despite its traditional form, Calvet House is punctuated with Gaudí's signature Modernista elements. These include a dramatic baroque oriel at the entrance and whimsically detailed columns shaped like bobbins, reflecting the owner’s textile business. The facade, made of Montjuïc sandstone, is adorned with baroque scroll gables and lacks Gaudí's usual vibrant ceramics. However, it compensates with rich Art Nouveau details throughout its interiors, such as intricately designed door handles, furniture, and a striking glass-and-wood elevator.

Key symbolic elements on the facade include the stylized letter "C" for Calvet and a cypress tree that symbolizes hospitality. The facade also features alternating protruding and shallow balconies, with mushrooms over the central oriel hinting at the owner's mycological interests. The building’s decor integrates personal and local references, such as the busts of Saint Peter, the patron saint of the owner, and Saint Genis of Arles and Rome, linked to the Calvet family's hometown of Vilassar. These personal touches are further exemplified by three sculpted heads at the top of the facade, representing Pere Calvet's father and the family’s patron saints.

The ground floor, which once housed Calvet's textile offices, is now the Calvet House restaurant, open to visitors and showcasing the building's opulent Moderniste decor. This architectural gem not only reflects Gaudí's adaptability to urban constraints but also his deep engagement with personalized architectural expressions. Between 1899 and 1906, the building was recognized along with other modernist landmarks in Barcelona, such as Lleó Morera and Trinxet houses, receiving accolades for its artistic contribution to the city's landscape.