Myrurgia

Myrurgia is the striking rationalist building that once housed a perfume and cosmetics factory in Barcelona, and it remains one of the city's most interesting examples of 1920s industrial architecture.

What is this place?

The Myrurgia company was founded in 1916 by Esteve Monegal i Prat, a Catalan sculptor who turned his attention to perfume and cosmetics production. Roughly a decade later, between 1927 and 1930, the firm commissioned a purpose-built factory at Carrer Mallorca 351, designed by architect Antoni Puig i Gairalt. It is this building — rather than the perfumes themselves — that draws visitors interested in Barcelona's architecture today.

Puig i Gairalt's design marked a departure from the city's better-known Art Nouveau modernisme, leaning instead toward rationalism and Art Deco, with clear touches of the noucentista movement. The work earned him Barcelona's prize for architecture in industrial and commercial buildings (1929–1930) and stands as his best-known project.

What will you see?

The building's main draw is its facade: geometric and restrained in overall form, yet carrying rich detail, including a three-part bronze relief frieze running across the elevation — a decorative flourish typical of Art Deco. Architecture writers note that this attention to detail extended to the lettering, signage, and even furniture, treated as part of a single design concept rather than an afterthought.

Inside — now office space and not freely open to visitors — a double-height entrance hall creates a monumental first impression, with a marble double staircase leading up to the first-floor offices. Critics single this hall out as one of the building's most accomplished spaces.

Since 2000, the Myrurgia brand has belonged to the Puig Group, and the Carrer Mallorca building now serves as that group's offices. In practice, this means a visit is limited to admiring the architecture from the street; there is no museum or exhibition space inside.

How do you get there?

The building sits in the Eixample district, within easy walking distance of the Sagrada Familia, making it a natural add-on for anyone visiting Gaudí's basilica. The metro is the simplest option: both Sagrada Familia (lines L2 and L5) and Verdaguer (L4 and L5) stations are just a few minutes' walk away. Combining the visit with a stroll through the surrounding Eixample blocks is worthwhile, as the area holds plenty of other early-20th-century architecture.

When should you visit?

Since the facade is the main attraction, the building can be viewed at any time of year or day — light is what matters most. Afternoon hours tend to give the best photographs of the facade and bronze relief, as the sun hits the Carrer Mallorca elevation more directly then. It's worth avoiding the peak of a summer midday, when the street offers little shade and can get uncomfortably hot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the Myrurgia building? No — it now functions as offices for the private Puig Group and is not open to tourists. The building is viewed from outside.

Who designed the building? Architect Antoni Puig i Gairalt, working between 1927 and 1930. It is considered his most notable work and won him a Barcelona architecture prize.

How does Myrurgia differ from typical Catalan modernisme (like Gaudí's work)? It represents a later architectural current — rationalism and Art Deco with noucentista influences — rather than the Art Nouveau style associated with the turn of the 20th century.

Is it worth combining with a visit to the Sagrada Familia? Yes, the building is within easy walking distance of the basilica, so it fits naturally into a walking route through this part of the Eixample.