Alhambra Building
If you want to have a more complete vision of the Alhambra Building, you can visit its own website created exclusively:
Or you can continue reading a short summary below:
The Alhambra Building is a hidden treasure in the Sant Gervasi - Galvany neighborhood. It was one of the first buildings to be built, in 1875, when José Castelló y Galvany decided to develop the land he owned.
The building, designed by Domingo Balet Nadal, in neo-Arabic/Neomudéjar style, is an architectural jewel of the city of Barcelona and protected by the City Council.
It is located next to the intersection between the General Miter ring road and Balmes street, in a central but hidden area.
It seems that on the outside it had an entrance flanked by marble lions, according to what María Luisa Castells, the oldest neighbor, remembers.
Old photographs of the Alhambra Building in Barcelona
Photo main facade
Panoramic photography from the beginning of the 20th century
Plans Alhambra Building in Barcelona
The building over the years has undergone various changes in the facade and structural. At the moment we do not have the original plans made by Domènec Balet and we have found these that are from 1919 by the architect Josep Maria Sagnier Vidal.
Plan showing the original height of the ground floor and three storey building.
Expansion plans anys later:
Plans of the facade and location, where it stands out that it was raised to be six stories high.
The legend of the Alhambra Building
Throughout its almost 150 years of history, several versions have been told about the construction of the Alhambra Building in Barcelona:
The most popular says that a man of Berlin origin acquired the land where he decided to build a building inspired by Arab architecture, with the purpose of preventing his wife, originally from Granada, from feeling nostalgic for her place of origin.
A second version suggests the possibility that it was the owner of the land, Castelló Galvany, who decided to build the Alhambra Building as a gesture to make his wife feel closer to her hometown, Granada.
A third version indicates that Dr. Otto Streitberger and his Andalusian wife, Rosario Pequeño, lived in the building, where they also had their electrotherapy practice, although this did not happen until several decades after its construction.
Patrimonial analysis
What is totally true is the building, which is based on the Alhambra and its interior is very reminiscent of the Patio de los Leones, since in the past the center of the hall had a fountain and sculptures of lions. When it was built it had two floors but it was expanded to six and currently there are 24.
Photo of the Alhambra in Granada
How to visit the Alhambra Building in Barcelona?
Situation: Calle Berlinès 5, BCN
Where is the Alhambra Building in Barcelona?
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The Alhambra Building is news today!
El País 12/05/2023 - La Barcelona neomudéjar, una perla oculta entre modernismos
La Vanguardia 12/08/2022 - L'Alhambra de Sant Gervasi
Diari el Jardí 07/07/2022 - La rèplica de l’Alhambra a Barcelona s’amaga al carrer Berlinès, a Sant Gervasi
La Vanguardia 04/09/2021 -¿Sabías que Barcelona también tiene Alhambra?
DiarioDesign 06/07/2021 - 5 Edificios míticos de Barcelona en los que vivir eperiencias únicas
Metropoli 02/04/2021 - Un trozo de Alhambra en Barcelona
Diari Ara 12/01/2018 - Una Barcelona de xeics i geishes
El Punt Avui 06/01/2018 - La Barcelona més exòtica
El Periódico 19/10/2017 - L'Alhambra secreta
Betevé 17/07/2017 - L'Alhambra desconeguda de Sant Gervasi - Galvany
