CASA UGUALDE

Jose Antonio Coderch

"The house has been built on a hill overlooking the sea. This hill is approximately 100 meters high above the town of Caldetas, which is 40 km away. north of Barcelona. The land has a steep slope and it was necessary to build on it respecting some very beautiful pine trees. The Ugalde wanted to build this house, if it was possible to build it taking into account the most interesting points of view that they had indicated on the ground.

There is a magnificent view that dominates on one side the entire coast of Barcelona, ​​the sea to the South, and on the other side there is a view over the Villa de Arenys and its small fishing port. To the East there is another view over great mountains and a small town from the time of the Moors.

It is a house that I have been allowed to design freely, but based exactly on the instructions of the owners. These are the conditions that have given the character of the planes." Coderch 1951

Jose Antonio Coderch

Born on 26 November 1913 in Barcelona, he began his architectural studies at the prestigious Barcelona School of Architecture under the guidance of Josep Maria Jujol.

In Madrid, he gained valuable experience working alongside Pedro Muguruza and Secundino Zuazo. However, it was in 1942 when he joined forces with Manuel Valls, and together, they established their first architectural studio.

He became associated with the esteemed Grupo R and formed a friendship with the renowned Gio Ponti.

In 1947, he achieved a significant milestone by masterfully crafting the Garriga Nogués house in Sitges. Subsequently, he gained international recognition for his outstanding design of the Spanish Pavilion for the Milan Triennale, receiving praise from luminaries like Aldo van Eyck, Max Bill, and Peter Harden.

In 1951, he embarked on the Ugalde House project, marking the beginning of a period of remarkable productivity. During this time, he created some of his most iconic works, including residences for Catasús, Ballvé, Luque, Gili, Zobel, and many others.

In the 1960s, he took on the role of a lecturer at the Barcelona School of Architecture, though he later decided to step down from this position.

He passed away in 1984, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and shape the field of architecture to this day.

The Client

In 1951 the industrial engineer Eustaquio Ugalde buys a wooded plot on a hill facing the sea in Caldes d’Estrac, about 40 km from Barcelona. Sitting under a carob tree and enjoying its wonderful views over the Mediterranean horizon, he decides to build a holiday home in this idyllic spot that allows him to enjoy it and at the same time take charge of maintaining the landscape to its fullest in its original state.

The marriage Ugalde entrusts the project to his friend José Antonio Coderch, who at that time is 38 years old and has already started to build some houses together with his partner Manuel Valls. This assignment will be key for Coderch because it will discover resources that will be used for the rest of his career, thus initiating a stage of maturity and recognition.

The privileged position of the land with its panoramic views over the sea, together with its topography and vegetation, are decisive for the project and the construction of the house. From the client’s indications and the meticulous study of the terrain “in situ” the first sketches and writings of the intentions are born.