Rafael Masó i Valentí (; 1880–1935) was one of the most outstanding Catalan architects of the early 20th century. Masó was born in Girona into a refined, conservative, Catholic family of Catalanist ideology. The personality and professional career of the future architect were marked by the cultured atmosphere of his home, created by his father's literary and artistic interests, as well as his own love of Girona city and its traditions. Masó was an admirer of

Antoni Gaudí Antoni Gaudí i Cornet ( , ; ; 25 June 1852 – 10 June 1926) was a Catalans, Catalan architect and designer from Spain, widely known as the greatest exponent of Catalan ''Modernisme''. Gaudí's works have a style, with most located in Barc ...

but, as a student in Barcelona, he joined the group of artists and writers who were to forge

Noucentisme Noucentisme (, ''noucentista'' being its adjective) was a Catalan cultural movement of the early 20th century that originated largely as a reaction against Modernisme, both in art and ideology, and was, simultaneously, a perception of art almos ...

, the movement that developed as an alternative to Modernisme. The civic spirit, the Catalanist outlook, and the forward-looking, pro-European ideas prevailing within the new movement inspired the young Masó, who was also to become a distinguished poet, urban planner, politician, and promoter of art and literature.

Biography and works

Rafael Masó lived in the

Masó House Masó House is the birthplace of Rafael Masó i Valentí (1880–1935). It is also one of the most important works of architecture in Girona. Offering unparalleled views of the city, it is the only one of the famous houses on the Onyar River open t ...

until 1912, the year of his marriage to Esperança Bru.ARAGÓ, Narcís-Jordi ''Rafael Masó, ciutadà de Girona'', Girona, 2006 The bulk of his work was carried out in Girona, and his buildings are mainly in the city and the surrounding area. He designed houses, villas and apartment blocks, as well as many other types of buildings, ranging from schools and hospitals to shops and factories. He was also involved in renovating farmhouses and restoring medieval architecture. His most outstanding works include the Teixidor Flour Mill (1910), the

(1911), and the Athenea cultural centre (1912), all in Girona; the Masramon House (1913) in Olot, the Casas House (1914) in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, and S’Agaró garden city (1923). Unfortunately, some of Masó’s plans never left the drawing board, as the clients did not always agree with his proposals. Moreover, after his death, certain buildings were either demolished or irreparably altered. Rafael Masó’s work is characterized by his identification with the noucentista postulates of a

modernity Modernity, a topic in the humanities and social sciences, is both a historical period (the modern era) and the ensemble of particular Society, socio-Culture, cultural Norm (social), norms, attitudes and practices that arose in the wake of the ...

that did not forsake the austerity of

classicism Classicism, in the arts, refers generally to a high regard for a classical period, classical antiquity in the Western tradition, as setting standards for taste which the classicists seek to emulate. In its purest form, classicism is an aesthe ...

, and included forms, colors, and materials taken from the local culture, with much reliance on artisan techniques. Strongly influenced by the English

Arts & Crafts The Arts and Crafts movement was an international trend in the decorative and fine arts that developed earliest and most fully in the British Isles and subsequently spread across the British Empire and to the rest of Europe and America. Initiat ...

movement and by the new German regionalist architecture, Masó wished to unite the

tradition A tradition is a system of beliefs or behaviors (folk custom) passed down within a group of people or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common e ...

of vernacular architecture with new ideas on structure, ornamentation, interior decoration, and furniture design. His contribution was decisive for the introduction into Catalonia of modern concepts in housing, the updating of traditional craftsmanship, the conservation of the Catalan historic heritage, and the promotion of cultural activity. Image:Farinera Teixidor.jpg, Farinera Teixidor. (Girona) File:Girona.farinera.teixidor.detall.jpg, Farinera Teixidor. (Girona) File:Farinera Teixidor Fanal.JPG, Farinera Teixidor. (Girona) File:Girona.casa.punxa.jpg, La Punxa. (Girona) File:Casa Batlle.jpg, Casa Batlle. (Girona) File:Casa Cots.jpg, Casa Cots.(Girona) File:14. Casa Masó.JPG, Casa Masó. (Girona) File:17. Athenea.jpg, Athenea. (Girona) File:18. Casa Masramon.jpg, Casa Masramon. (Girona) File:23. Casa Casas.jpg, Casa Casas. (Sant Feliu de Guíxols) File:28. Cementiri de Girona.jpg, Cemetery. (Girona) File:35. Casa Gispert-Saüch.jpg, Casa Gispert-Saüch. (Girona) File: Oliveras.jpg, Casa Oliveras.(Girona)

References

External links

Official website. {{DEFAULTSORT:Maso, Rafael Architects from Catalonia 1880 births 1935 deaths Modernisme architects