Casa Bassegoda (el Masnou)

Casa Bassegoda is a Modernista townhouse at Carrer de Sant Felip 105 in El Masnou, a seaside town on the Maresme coast just north of Barcelona. The building was redesigned in 1909 by Bonaventura Bassegoda i Amigó, a respected Catalan architect who effectively used the commission as a showcase of his own craft. The plot was formerly known as "ca l'Antònia de la Llet," and the house is also referred to today as Can Joan de la Llet. It is listed as a local cultural heritage asset (Bé Cultural d'Interès Local), which protects its facade and decorative details from alteration.

What does the facade show?

The house is a semi-detached, three-story building with a ground floor and two upper levels. The main floor draws the eye with two large balconies enclosed by pointed arches, richly decorated with ceramic tilework. Between them sits a carved shield depicting Sant Jordi (Saint George), Catalonia's patron saint. The ceramic mosaics repeat a rose-and-compass motif — traditional emblems of the architectural profession that Bassegoda wove into the decoration almost as a personal signature. The upper floor opens onto a gallery of four arched windows separated by slender columns, and the whole composition is topped by a railing that combines brickwork with wrought iron.

Why is it worth a stop?

Casa Bassegoda illustrates how Catalan Modernisme spread beyond Barcelona into coastal towns, where wealthy residents and local architects experimented with forms borrowed from the studios of Gaudí and Domènech i Montaner, but on a more modest, domestic scale. For architecture enthusiasts, it forms one stop on a walking route of Modernista buildings in El Masnou, worth pairing with other turn-of-the-century houses nearby.

How to get there?

El Masnou sits about 20 km northeast of Barcelona along the Maresme coast. The easiest way in is by regional train (Rodalies, R1 line) from Barcelona — El Masnou station is a short walk from Carrer de Sant Felip. Driving is also straightforward via the C-32 motorway or the coastal N-II road.

When to visit?

The facade is best appreciated in daylight, when sunlight brings out the color of the ceramic decoration and the depth of the arches. Spring and early autumn make for a comfortable time to combine a walk through El Masnou's old town with a visit to the nearby beach. The building remains a private residence, so it can only be viewed from the outside.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Casa Bassegoda? No — it is a private residential building. Visitors can only view the facade and architectural details from the street.

Who designed the building? Architect Bonaventura Bassegoda i Amigó, who remodeled it in 1909 into its current Modernista form.

Is there another name for this house? It is also known as Can Joan de la Llet, a nod to earlier owners of the plot ("ca l'Antònia de la Llet").

Is the building legally protected? Yes, it is registered as a Bé Cultural d'Interès Local (asset of local cultural interest), which safeguards its facade from modification.