Casa Hurtado begins its restoration in Les Corts to be reborn as a new cultural and community centre

Restoration work begins on Casa Hurtado in Les Corts. The Modernista building will become a cultural and community centre. The investment exceeds 2.3 million euros. New spaces for music, exhibitions and neighbourhood associations.

The restoration of Casa Hurtado is now a reality and marks a turning point for the Les Corts neighbourhood. Work began this April to bring this Modernista villa on Avinguda de Pedralbes back to life, with an investment exceeding 2.3 million euros. The project not only restores an iconic building but transforms it into a meeting place for culture and community life.

During March, the appointed contractor began the initial work to mark out and clean up the surrounding area. The intervention is now moving forward to turn Casa Hurtado into the future home of the Fundació Victoria de los Ángeles and a space open to Pedralbes residents' associations. The building will offer multipurpose rooms for exhibitions, small-scale concerts and cultural activities designed for all audiences.

The restoration plan covers the entire plot, including the gardens and outdoor spaces, with the aim of restoring the villa's original appearance. On the ground floor, the restored principal rooms will serve as versatile spaces for exhibitions and musical events. A small production storeroom will support these activities.

On the first floor, three restored rooms will host temporary exhibitions by the Fundació Victoria de los Ángeles, while two other rooms will be assigned to the neighbourhood residents' association, with a meeting room and an office for internal use.

The second floor will be dedicated to music, with rehearsal rooms adapted for trios, quartets and individual musicians. Two of these rooms will have upright pianos, and a dressing room for performers will also be provided. In addition, a double-height room with views of the city will be reserved for the foundation's administration and archive.

The basement, accessible by stairs and lift, will house the main machinery, a general storeroom and a cleaning and changing room for staff.

Casa Hurtado, built between 1904 and 1906 by architect Guillem Busquets as a summer residence for Antonio Hurtado's family, stands out for its Modernista architecture and handcrafted details. The roof, encaustic cement tile floors, ceramics and wrought iron on the balconies bear witness to Catalan building traditions and the heritage value now being restored for the neighbourhood.

Turning Casa Hurtado into a public facility provides a boost to cultural and social life in Les Corts, opening up new opportunities for musical training, neighbourly interaction and revitalising the surrounding area.

Casa Hurtado is one of the most distinctive examples of residential Modernisme in the upper part of Barcelona. Its history is linked to the transformation of Pedralbes and the rise of summer houses in the early 20th century. The building has remained closed for years, heightening interest in its restoration. The current intervention not only preserves its architectural value but adapts it to contemporary needs, strengthening the role of culture and public participation in the district.