LA RICARDA. A hidden treasure among the pines

by | Aug 7, 2013 | architecture, top 5

ricarda-bonet-fachada-principal

Antoni Bonet i Castellana |

El Prat de Llobregat, Spain [1949-1963] 


I’m really glad to open this space with a very special building for me, La Ricarda designed by Antoni Bonet, also known as Gomis House. Not only was it the first place I visited when I started my Architecture Degree, but it is also located in my hometown, very close to Barcelona.


ricarda-bonet-principal


This wonderful modern home is placed in an exceptional space in “el Delta del Llobregat”, and surprisingly, there are a lot of local people who don’t know about it. In 1949, the Gomis Bertrand family decided to contact the Catalan architect Antoni Bonet, who was living in Buenos Aires, to put him in charge of their summer and weekend home in an idyllic place next to the sea and surrounded by pines.

After some project changes, and with Bonet directing the works from a distance, that is what I have enjoyed a second time: a modular house that spreads out on the land, being part of the environment and under an incredible roof of catalan vault that seems to float among the pines. The glass building enclosure mixed with the ceramic lattice creates spaces with plenty of natural light and it makes it a really nice atmosphere. It is very interesting to see the original furniture, which was carefully thought by the architect, and which transports you to the 60s.


ricarda-bonet-mueble-interior

ricarda-bonet-entrada

ricarda-bonet-celosia

ricarda-bonet-cubierta-gente


One of the daughters of the couple Gomis Bertrand walked us through the house during the visit and showed us its surroundings. She told us the story of the building and some anecdotes of her childhood there, which helped us to understand the importance that it had in the past. The living room, which one day could be a family area, the next day it would turn into a concert hall because of its wonderful acoustics.

Among other things, she told us that during postwar years it became a meeting point for the intellectual Catalan society. To carry through this interesting social and cultural activity, the functional layout of the house was really suitable.


ricarda-bonet-jardin

ricarda-bonet-interior-sala

ricarda-gomis-bonet-cubierta


This modular house is divided in different pavilions depending on their use. On the one hand, and very close to the entrance, there is the area of the kitchen, office and service, next to the dining room and the living room. On the other hand, there is a whole wing for the children. Here, the bedrooms are organized in pairs, and it is possible to connect or separate them thanks to sliding cork doors.


ricarda-bonet-celosia-interior


It should be pointed out that the master bedroom is placed in an independent pavilion (with a bathroom and a study), showing the base unit. To emphasize the autonomy of the pavilion, the architect didn’t want to connect it with the rest of the house. Finally, it was linked by a glass corridor because of Ms Gomis, who looked for the comfort of her bedroom.


ricarda-bonet-pasillo


The servant rooms and the garage are next to the kitchen, and finally, away from the rest of the building, the tower (a water tank and a studio), which rises through the pines. It is not possible to visit it because of security problems, which is a pity.


ricarda-bonet-kitchen


If you want to know more about this private home, I recommend you to have a look at the book “la Ricarda, Antoni Bonet”, published by COAC.


ricarda-bonet-ariza

20 Comments

  1. Lana

    Hello Helena,
    I would love to visit LA RICARDA house with my designer friends.
    Could you please send me the contact details and the information about how to visit this house?

    And have you ever been to Xavier Corbero’s house in Barcelona?

    Thanks in advance,
    Lana
    withnoregrets@gmail.com

    Reply
    • h.Ariza

      Hi Lana!
      Thank you for your comment! I will send you all the information by email 😉

      And regarding Xavier Corbero’s house, I’ve never been there… though I would love to!
      Maybe I could arrange a visit for next time I’m in Barcelona and post it here. Please let me know if you have any contact there 🙂

      Best regards,

      Helena

      Reply
  2. Grazia Pota

    Hi Helena,
    I would like to visit the house, too.
    Could you send me details by email?

    Thank you very much,
    Grazia
    grpota@gmail.com

    Reply
    • Helena

      Hi Grazia!
      Sure, I’ll send you an email right now.

      Best,
      Helena

      Reply
  3. Miki Valdman

    Hello, I know this is quite an old post but do you think you could send me informations about how to visit the villa as well?
    Thank you, regards
    Mikulas
    mikivaldman@gmail.com

    Reply
    • Helena

      Hi Mikulas,
      Sure! Actually, I just was there a month ago! So I should probably update the post…
      Anyway, I will send you all the info by email.
      I hope you really enjoy your visit and come back to tell us about your experience 😉
      Cheers!
      Helena

      Reply
  4. Irene Sánchez

    Hi Helena! Thanks for your post, truly inspiring!
    Could you also send me the info about how to visit the villa?
    Thanks a lot,
    Irene

    Reply
    • Helena

      Hi Irene! Thanks for your nice comment 🙂
      I’ll send you the info to your email. I hope you enjoy your visit!!
      Best,
      Helena

      Reply
  5. Daniel Putilin

    Hi Helena,
    I am an architect from Sydney and I have always wanted to visit La Ricarda! Would it be possible for you to also send me the info?
    Thanks alot!

    daniel.putilin@gmail.com

    If you ever want to visit Australia, we have a lot of great architecture on offer too!

    Reply
    • Helena

      Hi Daniel. Sure!
      Actually, I’m looking forward to visiting Australia. I hope it can be very soon 🙂
      Best!

      Reply
  6. Sara and Andy

    Would you send us information about how to visit the villa as well? We’ll be in Barcelona in
    summer 2022. Do you know, too, if Sert et als. Casa Bloc can be visited?
    Many thank yous
    Sara and Andy

    Reply
    • Helena

      Sure! I’ll send you an email with all the info for visiting La Ricarda 😉
      Regarding la Casa Bloc, there is an apartment open for visits. I think you have to make a reservation in advance, but you can find all info online.
      Good luck in your trip to Barcelona! I hope you enjoy my beautiful city.

      Reply
  7. Pat Capocci

    Hi Helena,

    Thanks so much for these words and photos, super enjoyable to read!

    If it’s possible to also receive to contact details to visit La Ricarda I’d appreciate it

    pcapocci@yahoo.com.au

    Reply
    • Helena

      You are very welcome, Pat! I´m happy you enjoyed it.
      Sure, I´ll send you all the details in a separate email. Stay tuned 😉

      Reply
  8. Chris

    Hello. This is a fantastic blog and photography.

    My mother and I are visiting Barcelona next week and would love to see La Ricarda… Would you be happy to share the visiting information with me too?

    Reply
    • Helena

      Hi Chris!! Thank you for your nice words 🙂
      I was traveling and just saw your comment. It´s so sad!
      Anyway, I´ll send you the info for future visits.
      I hope you enjoyed Barcelona!

      Reply
  9. Georgina Eklof-Grey Rage

    Hi Helena – what a fabulous blog! I am planning on taking my husband to Barcelona for his birthday and I know he would love to visit La Ricarda. Could you please share details? geklofgrey@gmail.com

    Reply
    • Helena

      Sure Georgina! I’m happy you liked the post 🙂
      I apologize for the delay in my response… I’ll send it to you right away!
      Hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  10. Isabel Sousa

    Hi Helena,

    Thank you for sharing such nice pictures !
    Could you please help me to visit La Ricarda?
    I will be visiting Barcelona next week and would love to visit the house !

    Thank you !

    Reply
    • Helena

      Hi Isabel – Thanks for your comment.
      Sure, I´ll send you the info by email. However, you must reach out to the family with time to plan. Maybe next time?
      Hope you enjoyed Barcelona!

      Reply

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Helena Ariza | Architect, passionate about photography and traveling. My purpose is to take you on a journey to the best architectural works.

 

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