Edificio Alhambra – example of Moorish design in Barcelona

[Mark Stücklin]

Edificio Alhambra – extraordinary example of Moorish architecture and design in Barcelona.

This building is a bit of a curiosity in Barcelona. Edificio Alhambra (Calle Berlinés nº 5 in the Sarriá-Sant Gervasi district) was built in 1875 by a German man living in Barcelona married to an Andalusian lady from Granada, home of the extraordinarily beautiful Alhambra Palace. The moorish design and architecture was intended to make her feel less homesick, though at the time Moorish design was trendy in Barcelona, with the Teatro Español and Plaza de Torros Las Arenas built around then in Moorish style. The architect of this building was the Catalan Domingo Ballet i Nadal.

The exterior is not that special, and is currently looking a bit shabby, but the main entrance hall is still in good shape and clearly inspired by the Alhambra palace. The ground floor property at the back of the building, with a terrace at the back, something like 200m2, was sold last year for around €400,000 I’m told, now being refurbished. Someone got a bargain there.

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