Description
Bau House is one of the finest examples of Modernist architecture in Tortosa and one of the city's most iconic early 20th-century buildings. Located on Ramon Berenguer IV Street, it stands out for its impressive scale and the elegance of its architectural design.
Built between 1912 and 1915, the house was designed by the architect Josep Plantada for Josep Bau, a successful olive oil entrepreneur who expanded the export of Tortosa's olive oil to South America. He was also the father of the politician Joaquín Bau.
The original complex combined the family residence with two warehouses dedicated to the olive oil trade. The house occupies the centre of the plot because an urban development plan originally envisaged the construction of a public square in front of the building, although this project was never carried out. Today, only one of the original warehouses remains.
The façade is arranged around a central axis of symmetry and is an outstanding example of Catalan Modernism. At street level, a gallery of arches supported by slender columns with floral capitals and rich naturalistic decoration provides the base for the building's most distinctive feature: the magnificent bay window on the main floor.
Particular attention should also be paid to the finely crafted wrought ironwork decorating the entrance door, windows and balconies. On the southern rear façade, an elegant semi-circular glazed gallery fills the interior with natural light and adds further architectural interest.
Inside, the building preserves exquisite woodwork, ornamental stucco ceilings and other decorative elements that reflect the exceptional craftsmanship and artistic quality of early 20th-century Modernist architecture.
Today, Bau House is home to the Ebre branches of the Architects' Association of Catalonia and the College of Journalists of Catalonia, ensuring that one of Tortosa's most remarkable Modernist landmarks remains an active part of the city's cultural and professional life.
