Joan Martorell i Montells
Barcelona, 1833 – 1906

Joan Martorell i Montells (Barcelona, 1833 - 1906) was a prolific architect who worked for the country's main fortunes: Joan Güell, the Marquis of Comillas and the Marquis of Robert. He was in charge of commissions such as the building of the Sociedad de Crédito Mercantil, the Palacio de Sobrellano and the Palau Robert, respectively.

He graduated as a master builder in 1867 and as an architect in 1876 from the newly created Barcelona School of Architecture. His style was markedly Gothic due to the influence he received from the great French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Joan Martorell was also one of the founders of the Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc, and founder and president of the Barcelona Workers' Circle. He was Antoni Gaudí’s teacher, who began to collaborate with Martorell as a draughtsman. In fact, it was Joan Martorell himself who, as one of the main promoters of the Expiatory Temple of La Sagrada Família, proposed that Gaudí take charge of the project in 1883. He was also Lluís Domènech i Montaner's mentor. In 1901, he won first prize in the annual competition of artistic buildings, awarded by the Barcelona City Council, for the building of the Sociedad del Crédito Mercantil. This building was one of his last works. Among his extensive work, the following stand out:

  • Convent of the Adoratrius (1874)
  • Church and convent of Las Saleses (1877 a 1885)
  • Church of Sant Ramon de Penyafort (1882-1890)
  • Chamber and dome of the Basilica de la Mercè (1888)
  • Restoration of the Pedralbes Monastery (1897
  • Building of the Commercial Credit Society (1901)
  • Church of Santa Monica
  • House of the Marquis de Robert, now Palau Robert (1898-1903)
  • College of the Jesuits of Sarrià
  • Church of the Immaculat Cor de Maria in Barcelona (1904)