The house of butterflies

Casa de las Mariposas, Casa Rapallo, or Casa Rapallo-Campos, as it was known by its owners, is a prominent building in Almería dating back to the early 20th century and declared an asset of cultural interest. Situated in the heart of the Puerta de Purchena, Almería's central neuronal district, designated as a historic site in 1991. The building was constructed in 1909 according to plans drawn up by Trinidad Cuartara in 1905 on the site of an old hostel, at the confluence of the Puerta de Purchena.

The municipal architect aimed to ornament the city centre with a building that symbolized the growing economic and political power of the Almeria bourgeoisie. Indeed, the Casa de las Mariposas is a classic example of bourgeois and urban architecture, albeit on a larger scale: it was the tallest and most voluminous building in the city, with its four floors. The building is organized according to the principles of bourgeois architecture, dividing into a zócalo, a central body of housing, and a crowning cornice with large eaves.

The corner is visually emphasized by a finish with a castillete in two bodies plus a dome. The ground floor is of a heavy character in terms of materials and composition, the central body is lighter and with marked verticality and hierarchical ornament, culminating the building in a wide cornice. The building's butterflies, a symbol of the masonic affiliation of architect Cuartara, are a symbol of resurrection, immortality, and protection. In 2008, the building was acquired by the financial group Cajamar for institutional use, and its rehabilitation was undertaken in 2010. It currently houses a meeting room with a capacity of 270 people.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons