Palace Marqués de Alfarràs
At the entrance to Barcelona’s Parc del Laberint d’Horta stands the Palau del Marquès d’Alfarràs, an architectural gem that has reopened to the public following a restoration that has recovered distinctive features and returned beauty to a building with a long history.
The Palace of the Marquis of Alfarràs was built between the 11th and 19th centuries and was declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest. Despite this, it had remained virtually abandoned for more than 40 years and was at risk of falling into ruin, with no intervention other than the right-hand wing, which was restored in the 1980s.
Although the palace we see today is associated with the Desvalls aristocratic splendour (and the creation of the Laberint d’Horta’s neoclassical garden), its origins date back to the 11th century, when the building was a watchtower: the Torre Sobirana.
Technical advantages of KEIM Restauro-Lasur applied in the project
Over the past two years, a comprehensive restoration has been undertaken at a cost of close to €5 million, as part of a project led by ONL Arquitectura.
The chromatic restoration of the façades was carried out by the conservation company Rod Albert, which applied very subtle silicate patinas and glazes using KEIM Restauro-Lasur to revive the original decorative finish.
KEIM Restauro-Lasur is the ideal product for chromatic restoration work, whether on lime mortars, as in this case, or on porous natural stone and brick.
The restoration has made it possible to halt deterioration, ensure stability and safety, and restore the splendour of a historic building of more than 3,000 m².
The palace’s reopening has been accompanied by repairs to the vegetative labyrinth. Barcelona City Council has reported the replacement of 2,211 new cypress trees, drainage improvements and the renewal of the irrigation system to enable more sustainable water use.
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Architects: ONL Arquitectura
Chromatic restoration: Rod Albert
Paint: KEIM Restauro-Lasur
