The bank sign that vanished from the facade

The bank sign that vanished from the facade

Photo: Pere prlpz ( talk ) / Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0 , resized

Lleida's Edifici Pal·las holds a fragment of a lost identity on its street-facing wall, revealing how the building transitioned from private finance to public service.

The facade on Avinguda Blondel is a modernist structure with a sculptural treatment. A superior addition, which is currently non-existent, once announced that the building was owned by a banking entity.

While the interior was completely remodeled in 1974 by architects Sabater, Domènech and Puig, the exterior remains a protected site of local cultural interest. The facade features different ornamental elements that overlap the openings, which predominate over the wall.

Since the bank moved out, the building has been adapted for municipal use. It now houses technical services and various local government offices. The building's heritage was further preserved through a restoration of the Modernista facade of Avinguda Blondel between 2006 and 2008.

Today, you can see the contrast between the original sculpted work and the revalued porches on the ground floor, which feature woodwork on the ceiling and glass.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Guide me

Hear this story where it happened, along with the others around it. Say how many days you have and what you are into, and we put together a route through these places, with a voice guide telling each story as you arrive.

Guide me

Written by Nik Frost

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