“The uniqueness of this building lies not only in its architectural and artistic value, but also in the figure of Enric Sagnier and the history of the house, which is the history of Barcelona,” maintains Tobin Tracey, director of the Cultural Heritage office of the United States Department of State. He refers to the Godó Eguia Tower, in the Noucentista style, commissioned in 1914, since 1992 the headquarters of that country’s consultancy and now immersed in an ambitious rehabilitation to recover its original splendor, with the frescoes by Darius Vilàs included.
The incorporation, two years ago, of this building in the select list of properties with cultural and historical value that the United States has around the world has marked a turning point for the consulate headquarters in Barcelona. Proof of this is that it has been chosen for the biannual meeting of the heritage commission of the United States Department of State, headed by Tobin Tracy and made up of 16 specialists who toured Barcelona this week. “The catalog now consists of 44 properties and next year we will add seven more,” Tracy announces.
The Sagnier building joined the club in 2022 and after a first allocation of one million euros approved by the US government, the rehabilitation of the temple located at one end of the garden and visible from the street was first addressed. After this rehabilitation, the focus has been placed on the facades, now covered with scaffolding. The change is already evident. The previous pastel tone has become a more intense mustard yellow. “This is how it was originally and we are using the techniques and materials of the time, such as paint and lime mortar… We want to be faithful to history,” explains Jordi Berengué, head of maintenance at the consulate. His meticulous study and inventory of the unique elements of the house have served, not only to enhance its value, but to establish the plan of actions and priorities.
The goal is for the facades to be finished in May and for the exterior to be ready on July 4, for the Independence Day celebration. The only thing missing is the restoration of Darius Vilà’s frescoes, especially the lower part of these murals, which will recover their original gilding. This action is planned to begin after the summer.
Inside, specific actions are also being carried out to interfere as little as possible with the normal activity of the consulate. The most notable change is the incorporation of two large murals on wood by Sert, a contemporary of Enric Sagnier, which now hang on either side of the staircase leading to the main floor. The chapel is located on this floor, where tests are also being carried out to recover the original colors of the columns and walls, as well as the openings and stained glass windows. “The objective is for the building, after its multiple vicissitudes during the Civil War and its subsequent use, to breathe again,” concludes Berengué.