In this first stage, the catalogue focuses on the modern and contemporary architecture designed and built between 1832 –year of construction of the first industrial chimney in Barcelona that we establish as the beginning of modernity– until today.
The project is born to make the architecture more accessible both to professionals and to the citizens through a website that is going to be updated and extended. Contemporary works of greater general interest will be incorporated, always with a necessary historical perspective, while gradually adding works from our past, with the ambitious objective of understanding a greater documented period.
The collection feeds from multiple sources, mainly from the generosity of architectural and photographic studios, as well as the large amount of excellent historical and reference editorial projects, such as architectural guides, magazines, monographs and other publications. It also takes into consideration all the reference sources from the various branches and associated entities with the COAC and other collaborating entities related to the architectural and design fields, in its maximum spectrum.
Special mention should be made of the incorporation of vast documentation from the COAC Historical Archive which, thanks to its documental richness, provides a large amount of valuable –and in some cases unpublished– graphic documentation.
The rigour and criteria for selection of the works has been stablished by a Documental Commission, formed by the COAC’s Culture Spokesperson, the director of the COAC Historical Archive, the directors of the COAC Digital Archive, and professionals and other external experts from all the territorial sections that look after to offer a transversal view of the current and past architectural landscape around the territory.
The determination of this project is to become the largest digital collection about Catalan architecture; a key tool of exemplar information and documentation about architecture, which turns into a local and international referent, for the way to explain and show the architectural heritage of a territory.
We kindly invite you to help us improve the dissemination of Catalan architecture through this space. Here you can propose works and provide or amend information on authors, photographers and their work, along with adding comments. The Documentary Commission will analyze all data. Please do only fill in the fields you deem necessary to add or amend the information.
The Arxiu Històric del Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya is one of the most important documentation centers in Europe, which houses the professional collections of more than 180 architects whose work is fundamental to understanding the history of Catalan architecture. By filling this form, you can request digital copies of the documents for which the Arxiu Històric del Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya manages the exploitation of the author's rights, as well as those in the public domain. Once the application has been made, the Arxiu Històric del Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya will send you an approximate budget, which varies in terms of each use and purpose.
The Rogelio Rojo factory is located between Rogelio Rojo, Fàbrica, Santa Clara streets and Catalunya avenue.
It is an architectural complex for industrial use built in different periods: 1917, the 1930s, the 1950s, the 1960s and 1973. The main volume of the complex is U-shaped, consisting of two single-storey buildings and one two-storey building. There are also a number of annex buildings that have been added over time.
The interior space is open-plan and large, thanks to the large windows and the sawtooth roof. The exterior, made of exposed brickwork and ceramic tiles, has end walls crowned with curvilinear and mixtilinear headboards inspired by the Baroque style.
The vertical structure consists of steel pillars and load-bearing walls made of solid brick. The roof is made of Arabic tiles on a ceramic base supported by wooden and metal trusses (replacing the original wooden ones). The main nave and the other two are joined together, as the side walls have been replaced by metal beams with a masonry pillar (solid brickwork) in between.
The foundations are 60 cm wide continuous stone masonry walls.
The roof of the long nave is made of ceramic tiles on ceramic tongue-and-groove. The floors are concrete and show some unevenness and repairs.
Inside, there are full-height divisions with brick walls and reinforcement pillars.
The industrial complex occupies a 9,752 m2 site, of which 4,675 m2 is built on.
During the First World War (1914-1918), there was an increase in demand from the warring countries, which encouraged the development of the textile and metallurgical industries.
At that time, the Rojo family began manufacturing accessories for the garments they made themselves. Finally, they decided to manufacture only metal trimmings such as buckles, buttons and needles, as well as plaques for cava bottles.
After the war, Catalan exports suffered a slump. The crisis led to unemployment and social unrest. The Rogelio Rojo company set up its new factory in Masquefa, far from the unrest of urban areas. The architect in charge of the project was Josep Donés i Torres.
The pace of production in the early years was stable, the balance between imports and exports was favourable, wages were low and the workforce was mainly made up of women.
In 1936, with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, production remained unchanged. In 1937, in contact with the War Industries Commission of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the factory began manufacturing projectiles for the Republican army and a new building was also constructed. On 22 January 1939, Masquefa was bombed by the Italian air force.
The post-war period was a difficult time, and the factory became an economic benchmark and a socialising element for the municipality of Masquefa.
During the 1970s, a new two-storey building was constructed, designed for the galvanising production process. At the end of the 1980s, the factory's facilities became obsolete and it could no longer compete in the market. The factory closed at the end of the 20th century.
This factory has been involved in activities related to metallurgy. The last company ceased operations in 2002.
It currently houses, among other services and cultural activities, the Municipal Library. In 2002, the complex was acquired by the Masquefa Town Council.