Barcelona balcony facade
by Stefano Senise
Title
Barcelona balcony facade
Artist
Stefano Senise
Medium
Photograph - Photo Bw
Description
The elaborate Chinese dragon on the façade's corner is the most lavish ornamental feature of Casa Bruno Cuadros. Along with the umbrella underneath it, it served as advertising for the store. After renovations in 1980, the building currently houses a bank in Barcelona's gorgeous umbrella store.
La Rambla is a never-ending storehouse of surprises. A box that opens and reveals jewels, including this allegory of Orientalism, the Casa Bruno Cuadros, which was formerly Barcelona's umbrella store. The Casa Bruno Cuadros's style, which is close to modernisme in its use of color and delicacy of decorating, has made it a worthwhile addition to many Barcelona visitors' photograph books.
An intricately designed dragon sculpture adorns the side of the building, coupled with decorative iron railings and a hanging lamp. The monochrome tones highlight the architectural details and elegance of the facade.
In 1883, architect Josep Vilaseca renovated the Casa Bruno Cuadros and the ground-floor umbrella business. Barcelona was just a few years away from the 1888 Universal Exhibition, and the city was expanding rapidly, with intriguing structures sprouting up all over town. The Catalan home-grown art-nouveau trend, modernisme, was gaining traction, as was the desire for Oriental embellishments. The Casa Bruno Cuadros in Barcelona, also known as the Casa dels Paraigües (House of Umbrellas), is an example.
Uploaded
June 2nd, 2025
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