The truth is that it is always a pleasure to see a work by
the great Antonio Gaudí. And, taking advantage of the fact that I am in
Cantabria these days, I came to enjoy one of his first jobs as an architect,
this magnificent three-story mansion that he built in Comillas between 1883 and
1885. for Máximo Díaz de Quijano, a wealthy lawyer who made his fortune in
Cuba, and entrusted this "whim" to the Indian (that's what they called
those who went to America and returned with fortune) His original name was
Villa Quijano, taken from the surname of this mysterious character, but more
deeply the nickname that the neighbors gave him, El Capricho, and that is how
it has been baptized to this day.
The construction of it at that time was quite an event in
this small fishing village, and the owner of it was the subject of many
murmurings: for being "single", for his businesses, his hobbies-music
and botany-and the mysterious illness of him.
The history of the house is as original and unique as the
building itself. Gaudí took 2 years to build it but the owner of it was only
able to take advantage of it when it was finished for 7 days. Máximo died of a
strange fever and his sister Benita inherited it. The building fell into disorder
after the Civil War, a state in which it continued despite being declared an Strength
of Cultural Interest in 1969. In 1977, the last descendant of the López-Díaz de
Quijano family, Pilar Güell Martos, moved to sell the property of businessman
Antonio Díaz who restored it in 1988 and turned it into a cafe. In 1992 it was
bought by the Japanese group Mido Development. Finally, in 2009, the building
was transformed into a museum.
And that's how El Capricho has remained for us, as
beautiful and original as Gaudí himself conceived it.
Honestly, it is always a pleasure to see a work by the great
Antonio Gaudí. And, since I am currently in Cantabria, I have come to enjoy one
of his first works as an architect, this magnificent three-story palace that he
built in Comillas between 1883 and 1885 for Máximo Díaz de Quijano, a wealthy
lawyer who made his fortune in Cuba. They are nom était à l'origine Villa
Quijano, shot du nom de famille de ce personnage mystérieux, more surnom que
lui ont donné les voisins, El Capricho, était plus populaire, et c'est ainsi
qu'il a été baptisé jusqu ' to our days.
The construction of it at that time was an event in this
small fishing village, and the owner of it was the subject of much gossip: for
being "single", for his company, his hobbies-music and botany. -and
his mysterious illness.
The history of the house is as original and unique as the
building itself. Gaudí took 2 years to build it but the owner of it was only
able to take advantage of it 7 days after its completion. Máximo died of a
strange fever and his sister Benita inherited it. The building fell into poor
shape after the Civil War, a state in which it remained despite having been open
an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1969. In 1977, the last child of the
López-Díaz de Quijano family, Pilar Güell Martos, sold the property to the
businessman Antonio Díaz, who restored it in 1988 and turned it into a bistro.
In 1992 it was swallowed by the Japanese group Mido Expansion. Finally, in
2009, the building was turned into a museum.
And that's how El Capricho has been preserved for us, as beautiful and original as Gaudí himself conceived it.
The house is full of spaces to discover. Are they:
The GreenHouse . It was used to house tropical plants, but
also to diffuse light and give color to this building, whose distribution is
designed taking into account the orientation of the sun.
Bedroom . The main room is 45 m². Its original shutters
insulate the interior from the cold. There is a wooden coffered ceiling with 88
iron flowers weighing one kilo each. The English fireplace adds character to
this space.
Bathroom . Distributed in three areas: white tiling, bathtub
and portrait. The jewel of this room are the stained glass windows that unite
the two passions of Máximo, but also of Gaudí, music and nature: a blackbird
playing the organ and a bee playing the guitar.
Dinning room. It puts double glazing to protect it from the
north. The wooden shutters end up protecting the interior. They roll with a
weight of five kilos.
Main room. The music room. Here they organized intimate
evenings but without blinds so that everyone could see them; and chat as you
please. The balconies looked inwards to enjoy what was going on inside thanks
to the good acoustics of the room. Even the guillotines ring like bells.
Room . Its ceiling is a true work of art.
Arbor. It has a coffered ceiling with polychrome plaster
flowers. In the background, framed by an arch, we see the smoking room, with
its