Joan Amigó i Barriga (1875–1958) was a Spanish architect, a late representative of the modernism and the most important of this style in Badalona.
Life He was born in Badalona on 27 January 1875, son of Francesca Barriga i Torner and Ramon Amigó i Umbert, a chocolatier. The origins of the family are in Canyet, a farmer neighbourhood on the mountain. Soon after his birth, his father died and his mother married again with Jaume Botey i Garriga, a general contractor who influenced Amigó to study architecture and with whom he had his first contact with construction and other related tasks.
First he studied in Liceu Políglota of Barcelona and then architecture in the Architecture High Technique School in the same city and obtained the degree in 1900. Most of their buildings are located in Badalona, where from 1914 to 1924 was municipal architect. Appointed as a member of the construction council of Sant Josep parish, he was the architect of the church for many years. He died in Badalona on 30 December 1958.
Style Amigó is part of the second modernist generation, later than Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner or Puig i Cadafalch. Belong to the same college promotion the architect Antoni de Falguera, and the next was that of Salvador Valeri and Alexandre Soler. This generation lived the modernism as a more established trend that did not represent anymore a break with tradition, on the contrary modernism became a tradition.
He is a follower of the modernism, but also receives the news from Europe with influences of the Vienna Secession and even the Glasgow School. These new trends are present in houses Enric Pavillard (1906), Serra Vinyas (1907) and Enric Mir (1908). The last is the most influenced by the Secession and even by Mackintosh. His works include also some factories like Gottardo de Andreis or Can Casacuberta with influences of Wagner, Mackintosh and Olbrich.
Many of his works are signed by his stepfather Jaume Botey because he could not sign private works when he was municipal architect.
Works
Badalona +YearNameLocationPictureRef.1902Casa MatamalaC. Santa Madrona, 281903Escola Germans MaristesC. Temple, 15-191904Tomb of Francesc d'A. GuixerasOld Cemetery1905Casa Andreu ClarósC. Pietat, 121905Casa Pau RodonC. Museu, 181906Casa Enric PavillardAv. Martí Pujol, 231906/1909Gottardo de Andreis FactoryC. Indústria, 891906/1919Anís del Mono DistilleryC. Eduard Maristany, 1151907Casa Miquel BadiaC. Sant Pere, 41907Casa Serra Vinyas (disappeared)C. Enric Borràs, 71907Tomb of Bosch familyOld Cemetery1907/1920Can Casacuberta FactoryC. Dos de Maig, 271908Casa Leonard Le PrévostAv. Martí Pujol, 37-391908-09Casa Enric MirAv. Martí Pujol, 45-471908Casa Lluís PaquínC. Enric Borràs, 271909Casa i taller Joan TolràC. Enric Borràs, 19-251912Casa Pere BusquetsC. Temple, 251913Creu de MontigalàTuró de Montigalà1916Casa Jaume BoteyC. Gaietà Soler, 11917Casa Domènech PlanasAv. Martí Pujol, 1881920Church of Sant JosepPl. Rector Rifé1921-23Casa Rafael Gafarel·loC. Enric Borràs, 181922Fountain of Pau Casals SquarePl. Pau Casals1923Casa Prat BoschC. Mar, 151923–24Casa Antoni LlealC. Francesc Macià, 1041924Casa Fèlix GallentC. Temple, 271924Drogueria BoterC. Mar, 711924Farmàcia SerentillC. Mar, 231930Farmàcia SurrocaC. Mar, 76
Other locations +YearNameLocationPictureRef.1907Can Vicent Bosch (attribution)C. Camprodon, 59. Arbúcies1914Ca l'ArnauC. Bellaire, 2. Malgrat de Mar1920Tomb of Vidal Xaus familyCami de l'Alegria. Tiana
References
Bibliography