|
[Français]
[Castellano] [Català]
|
|
• On Botines House in León:
Basic information History Description Pictures
• Sources and additional information:
Links Bibliography
Other works of Gaudí
|
|
|
Basic information:
Location:
Plaza del Obispo Marcelo, 5
León Spain.
Qualification:
xxxxx
(3 on
5)
Present condition:
Façades and interiors:
Very good.
How to go to: León is the capital of the province with
the same name, located in the north west of the Iberic peninsula.
To go to it from Madrid, far of 367 Km, take the N-IV road.
Visits: That building is at present, the seat of Caja España
(a savings bank) and it is possible to visit the ground floor and
the basement where, eventually some exhibitions are located. The visits time is the same of the opening hours
of Caja
España.
For a more comprehensive visit is it necessary a previous
appointment.
Information: Phone: (34) 987 292 500 -
email: Line@España.es
|
History:
This building was entrusted to
Gaudí by the company "Fernández and Andrés" of León (Spain) -
succeeding of the business founded by mister Joan Homs i Botinàs (reason
why the building is known under the name of Botines) -, that company was
managed by Mrs. Simón Fernández Fernández and Mariano Andrés Luna that had
commercial relations, due to his textile business, with the count Eusebi
Güell who recommended them Gaudí as architect.
Gaudí worked then in the construction of the Episcopal Palace of Astorga
(close to León) and due to the proximity of both buildings, he decided to
accept the assignment.
Gaudí signed the plans of the building in December of 1891 and once
surpassed the lawsuit that the owners had with the City Council, the works
began January 4, 1892, directed by Claudi Alsina, and they were finished
in November of the same year.
In the year 1931, the Caja de Ahorros y Monte de Piedad (a Savings Bank),
acquired the building. This company carried out some reforms broking the
original design eliminating seven pillars of the basement. Fortunately a
new owner (Caja España - another Savings Bank), reconvert again the
building to install in it its social headquarters, and carried out in the
year 1994 a reform that restored the structure just as Gaudí had initially
projected.
For this restoration, the architects Mariano Diaz Sáenz and Felix Compadre
Díez were contracted to return to place the pillars eliminated previously,
pillars that were reconstructed with the same materials used by Gaudí.
During these works, a paper roll with information on the construction
aspects and collaborators of the initial works were found inside the
statue of San Jorge - work of Antoni Cantó and Vicenç Matamala - presiding
the main entrance, what has permitted a better knowledge of these aspects.
|
|
|
|
Description:
It is a rectangular building designed in a neo
gothic style, but shown some very modern constructive characteristics
for the period in which it was built. Really, despite the medieval aspect of
the building, Gaudí applies a modern conception of the architecture so
much in the constructive aspect, as in the artistic one and of
utilization.
The structure of the building is supported by light metallic
columns in the basement, permitting in this manner a more diaphanous
space than was better adapted to the commercial needs that this area
was devoted. In the upper flats, the function of support is trusted by
load walls.
The access to the building is made through a door
in the centre of the main façade, this is the only place where
the ditch surrounding the front and lateral façades is broken to lead to the
access stairs. On this door a statue of Saint George
fighting with the dragon - mentioned in the
section of history - is found, that door is closed with a notable
forged iron grille
in which we can observe a figure of a lion surrounded by vegetable motives
evoking the name of the city.
To each angle of the four facades
totally covered with blocks of of grey stone of local extraction, we find a
circular tower. An important quantity of neo gothic windows in a bigger
quantity in the low than in the higher plants, permit to assure a better lighting. In the upper plant, the
lighting is also assured by some skylights, situated in the roof,
simplifying also the ventilation, function helped by the six interior
courtyards.
Above the basement and the ground floor,
three levels are found plus an attic in addition. In the first one of these
levels there are two apartments, one for each owner and in each one of the
upper levels four flats destined to rent.
The roof is covered with grey
shale.
|
|
Pictures:
Exterior
Interior
|
Specific Bibliography on Botines House |
| Title |
Author |
Published by |
Year |
BOOKS: |
|
Soñando en piedra/ Dream in stone. León Gaudí 2002 |
Carriedo Tejero, M. and other |
Caja
España y otras entidades de León y Astorga |
2002 |
|
Gaudí para jóvenes: León-Astorga. 150 aniversario del nacimiento del
arquitecto |
Huerta, Fernando |
Ayuntamientos de León i Astorga, Fundación Vela Zanetti |
2002 |
|
El edificio Gaudí de León: Casa Botines |
Various authors |
Centro de Documentación de Caja España |
1997 |
ARTICLES: |
Carriedo Tejedo, Manuel:
Gaudí en el León de final de siglo. Un perfecto desconocido: Iniciativas
culturales (Caja España), nº 21 - 1998
Gaudí en León y en Astorga: Revista "León en Madrid" (Casa de León en
Madrid), nº 353 - 1998
Gaudí en la provincia de León (1889-1893): Nuevas iniciativas (Caja España),
nº 15 - 2001
El San Jorge de Gaudí en "Casa Botines": Nuevas iniciativas (Caja España),
nº 17 - 2002
La conexión catalana de Gaudí en León: Nuevas iniciativas (Caja España), nº
17 - 2002
Casa Botines, el nombre popular de una antigua "Casa de Cambio": Nuevas
iniciativas (Caja España), nº 17, 2002
Relojes, carrillones y campanas en "Casa Botines": Nuevas iniciativas (Caja
España), nº 18 - 2002
Catalanes en los "Caminos de Santiago". Gaudí en Comillas, en León y en
Astorga: Nuevas iniciativas (Caja España), nº 20 2002.
Galán y Galindo, Ángel:
El edificio Botines, de Gaudí en León: Revista "Ahorro" (Confederación
Española de Cajas de Ahorros), nº 183 - 1985
Lucas del Ser, Carmelo de:
Catalanes en León. Las élites que arroparon a Gaudí en su aventura
leonesa: Nuevas iniciativas (Caja España), 19 - 2002
Juan Homs i Botines. El comerciante que dio nombre al edificio de Gaudí en
León: Nuevas iniciativas (Caja España), 20 - 2002
|
|
|
|
|
Other
works of Gaudí:
In
Barcelona:
Bellesguard
Andreu Calvet
House
Batlló House
Vicens House
Santa
Teresa School
Sagrada Família
Schools
La Pedrera
Güell
Pavilions Güell
Palace
Park Güell
Sagrada Família
Miralles
Property Fence
In La Pobla de
Lillet:
Catllaràs Villa
Artigas Gardens
In
Mataró:
Workers Cooperative
building (attributed)
In Montserrat:
Monumental Rosary
path (1st mystery of Glory)
In
Santa Coloma de Cervelló:
Colònia
Güell Crypt
In Garraf
(Sitges):
Garraf
Cellars
Out
of Catalonia:
Botines House (León)
El Capricho
(Comillas)
Episcopal Palace (Astorga)
|
