José Antonio Coderch de Sentmenat (Barcelona, 1913 – Espolla, 1984) was one of the essential figures of 20th-century Spanish architecture. His work, deeply linked to the Mediterranean landscape, combines modernity, tradition, and a keen sensitivity to light, climate, and everyday life. Coderch championed an honest, humane, and precise architecture, capable of engaging with its surroundings without imposing itself.
His legacy is recognized today as one of the most valuable contributions to modern architecture in Spain, and his influence extends far beyond his time. “Houses aren’t made to be photographed, but to be lived in,” he said. Visitors understand this as soon as they enter.
Trajectory and thought
Coderch trained from 1932 at the Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB), where he was influenced by Josep Maria Jujol, a disciple of Antoni Gaudí. His work draws on Mediterranean vernacular architecture, the legacy of GATPAC, and the ideas of organic architecture, especially those of Alvar Aalto.
His work is characterized by the search for human proportions, the use of noble materials, the natural integration with the landscape and the constructive simplicity.
In his early career, he established his practice with Manuel Valls. He was a member of Grupo R, a movement formed in the 1950s by young Catalan architects.
In 1959 he participated in the last CIAM and subsequently joined Team X, alongside figures such as Aldo van Eyck and Alison and Peter Smithson. His growing international recognition stems from the value of his built work, which redefined Mediterranean modernity from a human perspective.
Casa Ugalde (Caldes d’Estrac, 1951–53)
Featured works
Coderch developed very diverse projects: single-family homes, residential buildings, facilities and industrial design.
The Casa Ugalde (Caldes d’Estrac, 1951–53) is one of his most recognized works: a key piece in his aesthetic innovation and a starting point for themes that he would develop throughout his career.
Among its most significant houses: Casa Catasús (Sitges, 1956), Casa Uriach (L’Ametlla del Vallès, 1961), Casa Rozés (Roses, 1962) and Casa Luque (Sant Cugat del Vallès, 1966).
Casa Rovira was conceived in 1967.
Among his larger-scale works are the Exhibition Pavilion of the IX Milan Triennale (1952), the Sant Feliu de Guíxols Nautical Club (1961), the Hotel de Mar (Palma de Mallorca, 1962), the Trade Towers (Barcelona, 1966), the Girasol Building (Madrid, 1966) and the Urquijo Bank housing (Barcelona, 1967).
In industrial design, he created the DISA lamp, an icon of Spanish design, and the Polo fireplace.
Casa Catasús (Sitges, 1956)
Casa Uriach (L’Ametlla del Vallès, 1961)
Casa Rozés (Roses, 1962)
Casa Luque (Sant Cugat del Vallès, 1966)
Viviendas del Banco Urquijo
Lámpara DISA
Chimenea Polo
Casa Rovira within the work of Coderch
Casa Rovira is a unique piece within the architect’s body of work. Its radical location—a rocky promontory that drops directly into the sea—demanded a precise response to a difficult topography: cantilevers and terraces that seem to float above the cliff.
