Visit to the La Obrera Mataronense Cooperative Cotton Bleaching Factory

Spanish Mediterranean Coast Tour ~ Barcelona (Region) The building was the first work built by Antoni Gaudí and the only one that was driven not by the bourgeoisie or the Church but by one of the first workers’ cooperatives in the textile industry. Gaudí's involvement with this cooperative was largely due to his friendship with Salvador Pagès, a key figure in the Catalan cooperative movement. This relationship influenced the young architect, who early on showed an interest in the new social trends of the time. From Gaudí's original project, both the bleaching boat and the adjacent toilets are currently preserved. Without the existence of the Mataro cooperative, Gaudí would not have tried some of the architectural solutions that he later applied in works such as the attic of La Pedrera or the three-dimensional funicular model of the Colonia Güell. In this building, the use of parabolic arches made it possible to cover nearly 600 square meters of transparent surface without the need for columns or walls. Furthermore, the use of wood made it possible to create lightweight but strong arches, hinged in small sections. This building represents an important milestone in the development of Gaudí's work, as it laid the foundation for the development of the arch as a key structural element in his most authentic architecture. In 1969, the building was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument by the Spanish State. #AprilDestinations2025 #SpainTravel #Catalonia