Casa Cortès

Casa Cortès is a Noucentista-style mansion in Cardedeu, one of the small summer towns of the Vallès Oriental region just north of Barcelona. Also known locally as Villa Narcisa, the house stands at Av. Rei en Jaume 160, set within a large garden plot typical of the bourgeois residences built in the town in the early twentieth century.

Who built Casa Cortès, and when?

The house was raised sometime between 1911 and 1929 for the Cortés family, who had made their fortune on the Barcelona stock exchange. Neither the exact construction date nor the sole authorship of the design is firmly established. Architect Ramon Puig Gairalt signed the plans for the surrounding fence in 1917, which points to his involvement in the wider project, but a surviving perspective drawing of the house itself is credited to architect Lluís Planas i Calvet. Architectural historians have not settled which of the two should be regarded as the principal designer.

What does the building look like?

Casa Cortès is a freestanding house with a stately, seigniorial character, built in the Noucentisme style that shaped much of Catalan architecture in the first decades of the twentieth century. Its design draws on the garden-city ideal that also inspired several other summer villas in Cardedeu. The main façade opens onto a semicircular portico that doubles as the entrance and as a terrace for the main floor above. The gabled roof is topped with decorative urns arranged in the mixtilinear style associated with Catalan Noucentisme. The western façade carries a separate rectangular portico running its full length, while an auxiliary building with a ground and upper floor stands on the south side, aligned along Gran Via Tomàs Balvey.

How large is the property?

The plot on which the house sits covers roughly 6,000 square metres, with a built area of around 1,000 square metres. The extensive, wooded garden surrounding the building echoes the tradition of the Catalan masia, or rural manor house, even though the villa itself has a distinctly urban, palatial appearance. Casa Cortès is one of several Noucentista mansions in Cardedeu that have changed hands in recent years for prices running into the millions of euros, underlining the historical and market value these buildings still carry in the town.

Where is Casa Cortès and can visitors see it?

The house stands in central Cardedeu at Av. Rei en Jaume 160, close to other Noucentista and Modernista villas that together form a small architectural trail through the town. Casa Cortès remains a privately owned property, but the address keeps set opening hours for visitors: Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 to 13:00, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30 to 14:00 and again from 15:30 to 19:00, and Saturday from 10:00 to 13:30. Calling ahead on +34 931 597 850 is the best way to confirm current hours and visiting arrangements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Casa Cortès and Villa Narcisa the same building? Yes. Villa Narcisa is an alternative name used for the same Cardedeu residence known as Casa Cortès.

Who designed Casa Cortès? This is not fully settled. Ramon Puig Gairalt signed the fence design in 1917, but a perspective drawing of the house by Lluís Planas i Calvet also survives, so authorship of the main building remains disputed.

What architectural style is Casa Cortès built in? Noucentisme, with mixtilinear decorative details on the roofline that are typical of early twentieth-century Catalan architecture.

Can Casa Cortès be visited? The property keeps posted opening hours on weekdays and Saturday mornings. It is advisable to call the listed phone number in advance to confirm access.