House in avinguda de Cusí i Furtunet, 40

The house at avinguda de Cusí i Furtunet 40 sits in El Masnou, a coastal town in the Maresme region roughly 20 km northeast of Barcelona. Built in 1950, this detached villa is listed in Catalonia's Inventory of Architectural Heritage (IPAC, entry 8589) as an example of local Noucentisme — the classicizing strand of early-20th-century Catalan architecture that followed Modernisme.

What makes this building notable?

The house has a compact, rectangular two-story volume set within a garden on all sides, a layout typical of the villas built along the Maresme coast when wealthy Barcelona families put up summer residences here. The gable roof runs with its ridge perpendicular to the south-facing façade, giving the structure a clear, symmetrical profile visible from the street.

Its most distinctive feature used to be the right-hand side elevation: a classical-style portico with columns topped by Ionic capitals, supporting a triangular pediment — a decorative nod to antiquity that Noucentisme architects favored as a deliberate contrast to the more ornamental Modernisme that preceded it. A later renovation removed this portico, leaving today's façade plainer than the original design, though the building retains its heritage protection and its place on the municipal register.

The house remains a private residence and is not open for interior visits. Its interest for visitors lies in the exterior architecture — one of several stops worth a look while walking the quiet, villa-lined streets of El Masnou away from the seafront.

How do you get to El Masnou?

El Masnou sits directly on the Maresme coast and connects easily to Barcelona via the Rodalies regional train (line R1), a roughly 25–30 minute ride from Barcelona-Sants or Plaça Catalunya. From El Masnou station, it's a short walk of about ten to fifteen minutes uphill to avinguda de Cusí i Furtunet, away from the shoreline. Driving via the C-32 motorway or the N-II road is also straightforward, though parking on the narrow residential streets can be limited during the summer season.

What will you see there?

The villa itself is a small, modest stop — a few minutes is enough to take in its exterior. Within a few hundred meters stand several other houses from the same era, together forming a distinctive architectural pocket in the upper part of El Masnou, quite different in character from the seafront promenade and marina below. It's a worthwhile detour for anyone interested in 20th-century Catalan architecture looking for something beyond the obvious tourist routes.

When should you visit?

Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September–October) bring mild weather and quieter streets than the height of summer. In summer, El Masnou draws heavier beach-related tourist traffic; that doesn't affect access to this residential area directly, but it does make parking harder to find and midday walks warmer.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the house? No — it's a private residence, viewable only from the street.

Why is the building protected? For its architectural value as a 1950 example of Noucentisme, registered in Catalonia's architectural heritage inventory under IPAC number 8589.

Does the original columned portico still exist? No, it was removed during a later renovation, so the current façade is simpler than the original design.

How long should you plan for this area? The house itself takes only a few minutes, but a stroll through the surrounding streets with similar early-20th-century villas can easily fill 30–45 minutes.