Casa al carrer de Prat de la Riba, 13 i 14

Casa al carrer de Prat de la Riba, 13 i 14 is a 19th-century townhouse on the seafront promenade of El Masnou, a coastal town in Catalonia's Maresme region, a short train ride from Barcelona. The building is listed on Catalonia's local cultural heritage register (Bé Cultural d'Interès Local), which protects its facade and overall structure from alteration.

In practice it is two adjoining houses, numbers 13 and 14, built and designed as a single architectural composition. The building sits in a continuous row of houses, roughly 4 metres above sea level, directly on the Passeig de Prat de la Riba — one of the town's main seafront avenues.

What will you see there?

The building has a rectangular floor plan with its facade aligned flush to the street. The composition is symmetrical, organised around two vertical axes of window and door openings, which gives the front a calm, orderly rhythm. The render is plain and the decoration deliberately restrained — a simpler, more austere approach than the ornate style associated with some other Modernista buildings in the region.

The standout detail is the wrought ironwork. The first-floor balconies share a single continuous wrought-iron railing spanning both openings, while the second floor has separate, individual railings for each opening. That contrast — one shared railing below, distinct railings above — is the easiest way to pick this particular building out from its neighbours.

The house rises from ground level through two upper storeys and ends in a flat, usable rooftop terrace (terrat), a roofline typical of Catalan coastal architecture from that era.

How do you get there?

El Masnou lies on the Maresme coast, about 20 kilometres northeast of Barcelona, and is well connected by the Rodalies regional train line to the city centre — the ride typically takes 25 to 30 minutes. From the train station, it is a short walk of a few minutes to the Passeig de Prat de la Riba, heading toward the seafront. Since the building sits directly on the promenade, the best way to see it is on foot, combined with a stroll along the beach and marina.

When should you visit?

Spring and early autumn are the best times for a walk along the Passeig de Prat de la Riba, with mild temperatures and a quieter promenade than during peak summer. Morning light tends to favour the seaward-facing facades, making it a good time for photographing architectural details like the wrought-iron balconies.

Why is it worth a stop?

This townhouse is not a major national landmark, but it is a good example of the modest, bourgeois coastal architecture from the turn of the 20th century that shaped the character of El Masnou's whole seafront promenade. For visitors interested in Modernista architecture beyond Barcelona's well-known Eixample district, it makes an interesting, low-key stop during a walk through town.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of the building? No — it is a private residential building, viewable only from the outside, from the promenade.

Why is the building legally protected? For its architectural and historical value, it is listed on Catalonia's register of assets of local cultural interest (Bé Cultural d'Interès Local), which protects its facade and structure from alteration.

What is the most distinctive feature of the building? The contrast between the shared wrought-iron railing spanning the first-floor balconies and the separate, individual railings on the second floor.

How long does it take to see? Just a few minutes to take in the facade — it works better as a stop along a longer walk on the Passeig de Prat de la Riba than as a standalone destination.