Taller Masriera in Barcelona

Taller Masriera is a 19th-century building in Barcelona's Eixample district, built as a workshop for the brothers Josep and Francesc Masriera, painters and goldsmiths who wanted an atelier worthy of an ancient temple. Its facade, modeled on classical orders, sets it apart sharply from the surrounding residential blocks, making it easy to spot on a walk through this part of the city.

Who built it, and why?

The Masriera brothers commissioned architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas, who in 1882 designed a building in the form of an amphiprostyle temple, with columns lining both of the shorter sides. His reference points were Roman-era models found in Spain and France, among them Barcelona's own Temple of Augustus and the Maison Carrée in Nîmes. The brothers treated art almost as a devotion, so they wanted their workshop to be more than a place of work — a "temple to the arts." The formal opening on 28 April 1884 turned into a major social occasion that the whole city talked about.

How did the building change after its founders died?

In 1912, following the death of his father Josep, the property passed to Lluís Masriera, himself a goldsmith and painter now best remembered for jewelry created in the Catalan modernist style. He expanded the complex, adding two side wings in 1913 that enlarged the workshop space. Lluís also had a strong interest in the performing arts, and he built a private theater inside the complex, the Teatro Studium, which opened in 1932. Through these additions, Taller Masriera grew from a jeweler's workshop into something closer to a venue for artistic and social gatherings.

What happened to the building in later decades?

The building's fortunes shifted sharply in the 1950s, when it was taken over by a religious congregation, the Pequeña Compañía del Corazón Eucarístico de Jesús, and turned into a convent. The order occupied it until 2009, when the property was handed over to the Fundación Pere Relats. Since then, Taller Masriera has stood empty and unused, though it still retains its original, monumental architectural form.

Is it protected, and can visitors go inside?

The building is listed in Catalonia's cultural heritage catalog as a Bien Cultural de Interés Local, a formal recognition of local cultural significance. That status confirms its architectural and historical value, but the building has sat unused for years, so its interior is not generally open for casual visits — worth checking locally before planning to go inside. The exterior, visible from the street in Eixample, remains one of the more striking examples of 19th-century architecture inspired by antiquity in this part of the city.

Frequently asked questions

What was Taller Masriera originally built for? It was the workshop of brothers Josep and Francesc Masriera, painters and goldsmiths, built in the form of an ancient temple.

Who designed the building? Architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas, in 1882.

What architectural style does it represent? Neoclassical, shaped as an amphiprostyle temple modeled on Roman precedents.

What was added to the building after 1912? Lluís Masriera expanded the workshop and built a private theater, the Teatro Studium, which opened in 1932.

Can visitors go inside today? The building has been empty and unused since 2009, so interior access is limited despite its status as a protected local heritage site.