Fabrica Descals

A 1917 Modernist Masterpiece Evocatively Renewed by Estudio Além

Historically an important modernist work by renowned Catalan architect, Joan Roca i Pinet, the Fabrica Descals building was a modernist residence that was formerly the home of the owners of a cured meat factory – earning it a place with the Olot Catalog of Protected Buildings. The current owners renovated the ground floor with the astute minds of Estudio Além (who used to work with a 2017 Pritzker Prize-winning architecture firm) that also won top prize for interiors at the 2022 Girona Architecture Awards.

A gentle preservation of a landmark building retaining its original character, the house has creamy walls and decadent, curvy lines. We especially love the scalloped ceilings. The kitchen is fully equipped, with smoked glass cabinets and parquet floors, and stained glass features beautifully throughout.

Fired clay terracotta originally covered the floors; it was readapted into small, hand-cut pieces atop underfloor heating and air conditioning. Three Kodachrome-hued bathrooms covered in yellow, blue and green ceramic tiles match with the tiled roof, and three bedrooms, make this an ideal vacation rental for three couples, or a family with two to four teenage or adult children.

Additionally, the property includes a newly updated Pavilion for two. This independent, one-bedroom, one-bathroom Pavilion is semi-submerged in the garden and surrounded by vegetation and water. The two spaces can be rented together for up to 10 guests.

The grounds contain a swimming pool that's perfect for Mediterranean summers. The home is an altogether luxurious and visually arresting place to stay while exploring Girona or Barcelona.

Around

The house is located in Olot, located in the province of Girona. The small medieval city’s volcanic and unique landscape are its hallmarks, with Parc Natural, Fageda d'en Jordà, Volcà Montscopa being places of natural fascination.

Fabulous Catalonian restaurants abound (haute cuisine in a traditional Catalan farmhouse at Restaurant Les Cols is an owner favorite), as do shops, bars and cafes. Historic Girona sits along the River Onyar where the walled Old Quarter (Barri Vell) features the ancient Roman rampart fragments of the Vella fortress woven through the tiny streets and alleyways.

Bordered to the north by the beautiful and protected Garrotxa region and to the south by the Gavarres national park and the Costa Brava, the area is surrounded by some of Catalonia’s most breathtaking natural beauty. When headed to the Costa Brava don’t miss El Canadell, a hidden gem of a beach in the picturesque fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell.

The area is also home to the authentic and picturesque medieval towns of Besalu, Figueres (home of surrealist painter Salvador Dali), Santa Pau, Castellfollit de la Roca, and Alta, all in less than an hour’s drive. Going back over two thousand years, the ancient Roman Road route is a fascinating drive through the region. The attractive French market town of Perpignan is just over an hour north and the medieval town of Vic is an hour west along the breathtaking (c25) road. Both the ski resorts of the Pyrenees and Barcelona are within an hour’s drive in either direction.

Location

Olot, Girona, Spain. Nearest airport: Girona (67km).

Best time to visit

May to October for best weather

Photos: Salva López