One of the most famous Mid Century Modern Catalan architects is Josep Lluís Sert. Sert’s buildings can be found in Spain, the US, and France, his distinctive style defined by striking geometric forms and a sculptural approach that breaks free of the restraints of pure functionalism.
Studies and Connections
Sert was born July 1st, 1902 in Barcelona. His uncle was the painter Josep Maria Sert. Josep Lluís Sert took an immediate interest in painting and architecture, and particularly appreciated the works of Antoni Gaudi. He attended the Escola Superior d’Arquitectura in Barcelona, and went into business in 1929.
Le Corbusier invited him to Paris for an unpaid internship, which Sert accepted. A year later, however, he was back in Barcelona, after which he ran his own studio and co-founded GATCPAC (Grup d’Artistes i Tècnics Catalans per al Progrés de l’Arquitectura Contemporània).
Life in Exile
Alas, Francisco Franco took power in 1939. The people of Catalonia were subject to systematic oppression, and Sert was no longer allowed to practice architecture in the country. To continue his career during Franco’s reign, he fled to the US. There, however, he continued to flourish, opening a studio in Cambridge, and working on architecture and city planning projects in North and South America.
Although Sert lived in exile from Spain until Franco’s death, he was not isolated. He retained close friendships throughout the art and architecture worlds. He counted such legendary artists as Joan Miró, Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, and Pablo Picasso among his friends. They would be a source of commissions, inspiration, and collaboration throughout his life.
Famous Works
Let’s take a look at a few of Sert’s iconic works.
Sert’s studio design for the painter Joan Miró in Mallorca may be his most photographed building. It is sometimes called the “Sert Studio,” but it was Miró who worked here, not Sert. The studio was designed to comfortably accommodate the Mediterranean climate, as well as the large work area that Miró needed for some of his canvases.
The structure stands out for its unusual roof shape. Swooping curves define the front. White concrete stands out against the warmer hues and more natural textures of clay and stone. The doors and windows feature pops of blue, yellow and red. Like the lines of the roof, these are somewhat evocative of Miró’s artwork.
The Fondation Maeght building in France is a modern art museum featuring works from many famous artists, among them some of Sert’s friends. You can see swooping rooftop lines similar to those in the Sert Studio. Sert once said “Architecture itself can be a sculpture.” With its pleasing configuration of geometric forms and its contrasts between curved and straight lines, it is easy to see the Foundation Maeght building as an example of that design philosophy.
Above you see the Peabody Terrace apartments at Harvard University in Cambridge. The design seems to draw inspiration from Le Corbusier, and it is clearly a bit of a divergence from the other buildings in this article. There are no swooping lines, just straight lines and right angles with a boxy, brutalist look and feel. Some people love Peabody Terrace, and others loathe it, as seems to be tradition with how brutalist structures are received.
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like The Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts: Le Corbusier’s Only North American Structure and Boston: Find the Best Vintage Pieces (and a Piece of History).
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