The Casa Enric Llorens, located at the intersection of Còrsega and Enric Granados streets, has regained the two spectacular towers that once crowned its façade. After more than a century of absence, a recent architectural restoration has restored this Modernist gem—highlighted by the Barcelona City Council—to the original silhouette with which it was conceived.
The exact reason for the disappearance of the original domes remains unclear. Over the decades, there has been speculation about possible damage sustained during the Civil War or a failed attempt to add more floors to the building. However, the account passed down by the family of Josep Pérez Terraza, the building’s master builder, suggests that the structures’ heavy weight compromised the stability of the terrace, which would have necessitated their preventive removal.
Comprehensive Renovation and Luxury Housing
The restoration of the domes is part of a renovation project spearheaded by the Autonomy Capital fund and designed by the architectural firm amid.cero9. The goal of the renovation is to transform the historic building to house a dozen luxury apartments. Work on the exterior has already been completed, revealing the new domes and the restored facade, while the project is now focused on finishing the interiors.
The return of the towers to Casa Enric Llorens has reignited the debate in the city over the possibility and advisability of reconstructing lost architectural heritage. The restoration evokes memories of other iconic elements that have disappeared from Barcelona’s urban landscape, such as the former Modernist kiosk on Las Ramblas, Bar Torino, the Palau de Belles Arts, and Casa Trinxet.
