Built between 1883 and 1888 the modernist Casa Viçens was Antoni Gaudi’s first main work of architecture following his graduation in 1878.

The contract came from Manuel Vicens i Montaner with the purpose of creating a summer house in the nearby village of Gracia which has since become part of Barcelona.

The shapes, patterns, and colors of Casa Vicens portray Gaudi’s Oriental period with aesthetics drawn from the Middle East, India, Persia, and Japan. Additionally we already find his characteristic imitation of nature and shapes and lines found in the nearby landscape, something which would be a staple of his career.

In 2005 the building was declared World Heritage, and in November 2017 it will be opened to the public as a museum showcasing a tribute to Catalan and international architecture.