Casa Punyed is a modernist house in Reus. Designed by architect Pere Caselles and set up in 1902, the building stands as a prominent example of Catalan Modernisme in Baix Camp.
The house was commissioned by the Iglesias Òdena siblings, owners of the local cotton factory known as Vapor Vell. The main facade features mixed-line arches with zigzag patterns and vegetable motifs on the lintels, constructed with stone material that contrasts with the exposed work of the upper levels.
Look closely at the first-floor balcony. You will find a series of human faces and grotesque masks carved into the transoms. Higher up, the corbels feature masculine faces representing a Christian king, an Arab, and a Chinese, among others. These details, alongside the stone tracery of the main balcony, highlight the building's architectural complexity.
Locals call it Casa Punyed because of the pharmacy that opened on the ground floor in 1908. Today, it remains a protected cultural asset in Reus, featuring a main balcony supported by eight large corbels and a stone railing designed like a traceria.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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