La Rotonda Building – A Symbol of Sant Gervasi.
A Modernist Gem at the Crossroads of History, Architecture and Barcelona’s Past
The La Rotonda building, also known as Torre Andreu, is one of the most recognisable architectural landmarks in Sant Gervasi–La Bonanova and one of the most distinctive historic buildings in the upper part of Barcelona.
Located at the junction of Avinguda del Tibidabo and Passeig de Sant Gervasi, this emblematic property has undergone more than a century of transformation. Originally conceived as a residence associated with the development of the garden city, it later became one of Barcelona’s most prestigious luxury hotels in the early twentieth century. Subsequently, it housed a healthcare facility before being transformed, following an extensive redevelopment, into a complex of offices, commercial premises and parking facilities.
La Rotonda is much more than a historic building. It reflects an era when Barcelona was expanding towards the mountains, a period when the bourgeoisie sought new residential environments, and a time when Catalan Modernisme transformed functional architecture into urban sculpture.
Its distinctive silhouette, crowned by a circular tower and a polychrome ceramic dome, remains an integral part of Sant Gervasi’s urban landscape and collective memory.
1. The Origins of La Rotonda
Salvador Andreu and the Birth of a New Barcelona
The history of La Rotonda is closely linked to Dr Salvador Andreu, a pharmacist, entrepreneur and one of the principal driving forces behind the urban development of Barcelona’s upper districts.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Andreu promoted the development of a garden city on the slopes of Tibidabo. His vision responded to the aspirations of an affluent society seeking to move away from the density of the city centre and establish itself in a more spacious, healthier environment, closer to nature.
The project envisioned elegant mansions, broad avenues and new transport infrastructure designed to connect the established city with residential neighbourhoods spreading towards the foothills of the Collserola mountain range.
Among these infrastructures was the tramway along Avinguda del Tibidabo, intended to facilitate access to the new residential developments. Another important element was the Tibidabo Funicular, inaugurated in 1901, which enabled visitors to ascend the mountain to the Tibidabo Amusement Park.
It was against this backdrop of urban transformation that the Torre Andreu project emerged, eventually becoming the celebrated building popularly known as La Rotonda.
Initially conceived as a residence associated with Salvador Andreu, the property ultimately became part of a more ambitious undertaking: a prestigious hotel capable of welcoming distinguished guests and reflecting the social aspirations of a rapidly evolving Barcelona.
2. The Birth of the Metropolitan Hotel
Adolf Ruiz Casamitjana and an Architecture with a Distinctive Identity
Architect Adolf Ruiz Casamitjana designed the building in 1906, drawing on the aesthetic principles of Catalan Modernisme, a movement that sought to unite decorative arts, traditional materials and forms inspired by nature.
Construction continued over several years, and the complex gradually acquired its historic appearance through subsequent architectural interventions. It opened as the Grand Hotel Metropolitan, soon establishing itself as one of the city’s most distinctive hospitality establishments.
Architect Enric Sagnier later contributed to the development of the complex, extending the building and modifying aspects of its original configuration with elements associated with Noucentisme, the artistic and cultural movement that followed Modernisme in Catalonia.
This succession of architectural periods explains the building’s hybrid character, in which Modernist ornamentation coexists with later interventions designed to accommodate changing functional requirements.
Following the Spanish Civil War, the establishment became known as Hotel La Rotonda. The name gradually became firmly established in the public imagination, inspired by the circular tower that remains one of the building’s most recognisable features.
The evolution of La Rotonda offers a particularly interesting example of how historic architecture can accumulate different layers of meaning over time.
3. A Luxury Hotel in Upper Barcelona
La Rotonda and the Social Life of Barcelona’s Bourgeoisie
During its hotel years, La Rotonda became an important meeting place for Barcelona’s bourgeois society.
Its position between Passeig de Sant Gervasi and Avinguda del Tibidabo gave it a privileged location within a residential district undergoing significant transformation.
The establishment featured a highly regarded restaurant with seating for approximately 500 diners, hosting banquets, social gatherings and important events.
La Rotonda was more than a place to stay. It embodied a particular way of life associated with elegance, social prestige and the desire to enjoy exclusive surroundings away from the bustle of central Barcelona.
Its architecture, location and distinctive facilities helped establish its reputation.
The hotel’s history also offers insight into the transformation of Sant Gervasi, which evolved from an area of villas and gardens into an increasingly integrated part of Barcelona’s urban fabric.
4. Architecture Between Modernisme and Noucentisme
Stonework, Sgraffito and Botanical Ornamentation
One of La Rotonda’s most fascinating characteristics is the richness of its architectural composition.
The original building features a ground floor, mezzanine and three upper storeys, in addition to basement levels. Its design combines volumes of different geometries arranged around the circular structure that gives the complex its popular name.
The façade establishes a dialogue between materials, colours and textures.
At the lower levels, worked stone provides solidity and monumental presence. On the upper floors, yellow-toned sgraffito decoration and botanical motifs introduce an ornamental language characteristic of Catalan Modernisme.
Balconies, windows with segmental arches and sculptural details contribute to a dynamic composition in which construction and artistic expression are closely intertwined.
The undulating roofline and lateral towers reinforce the building’s distinctive silhouette, while the circular tower dominates the overall composition.
This combination of geometry, ornamentation and varied materials makes La Rotonda one of the most remarkable examples of historic architecture in Sant Gervasi.
5. The Circular Tower and Its Temple-Like Pavilion
The Feature That Gave the Building Its Name
The circular tower is the visual heart of La Rotonda.
Crowned by a circular pavilion supported by eight columns, this structure concentrates much of the building’s decorative richness.
The columns feature capitals inspired by floral forms, while the bases incorporate ornamental motifs, including eagles, reinforcing the monumental character of the composition.
The dome, covered in glazed ceramic and mosaics decorated with floral patterns, introduces a rich palette of colours that contrasts with the stone surfaces and ochre tones of the façades.
At the top, eight green dragons designed as gargoyles add a fantastical dimension to the building’s silhouette.
Together, these elements create a distinctive profile visible from various points along the avenue, establishing a visual relationship between architecture and the surrounding mountain landscape.
The ceramic decoration was produced by ceramist Lluís Bru, who was associated with the Pujol i Bausis factory, one of the most important centres of artistic ceramic production during the Modernist period.
These details illustrate the importance of collaboration between architects, sculptors and craftspeople in the creation of Catalonia’s great Modernist buildings.
At La Rotonda, ceramics are far more than a decorative finish: they are an essential component of the building’s architectural identity.
6. Architecture in Dialogue with the Landscape
The Historic Gateway to Tibidabo
La Rotonda’s location is no coincidence.
The building stands at a transition point between the established city and the rising terrain leading towards Tibidabo. It occupies an environment where avenues, historic villas and vegetation form part of a shared urban history.
Its monumental presence accompanies the route along Avinguda del Tibidabo and recalls the urban transformation promoted by Salvador Andreu at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Architecture thus becomes a means of orientation and remembrance, identifying a place and connecting its past with its present.
The tower, dome and decorative roofline introduce a vertical emphasis that contrasts with the surrounding buildings and vegetation.
In this sense, La Rotonda functions as a visual landmark within the landscape of Sant Gervasi.
Its significance lies not only in the quality of its decorative elements but also in its ability to represent a decisive period in Barcelona’s urban development.
7. From Luxury Hotel to Healthcare Facility
The End of an Era and the Building’s Decline
Following its years of splendour, La Rotonda underwent a gradual transformation.
Barcelona’s changing social, economic and urban conditions altered the circumstances that had sustained the hotel’s success.
The property experienced several alterations and changes of use until its hospitality function gave way to healthcare activities.
By 1933, the building had begun its transformation into Clínica Rabassa, although further stages of adaptation subsequently altered its architectural configuration.
Over the following decades, the complex lost part of its original identity. Some interventions modified characteristic features of the façades, while the interior was adapted to meet the functional demands of its new purpose.
The elegance of the former hotel gradually gave way to an environment increasingly shaped by healthcare requirements.
Eventually, the building suffered significant deterioration and entered a period of neglect, illustrating the vulnerability of architectural heritage when its original purpose disappears and adequate maintenance is no longer provided.
La Rotonda’s history reflects a recurring challenge in major cities: historic buildings must find new uses compatible with their preservation if they are to survive for future generations.
8. The Restoration of La Rotonda
Preserving Heritage and Adapting It to Contemporary Life
In 1999, the property was acquired by the real estate group Núñez y Navarro, which initiated a redevelopment project intended to restore its architectural presence and adapt the building to new functions.
Developed from a project by Alfredo Arribas Arquitectos Asociados, the intervention sought to recover the original building and restore its principal façades while incorporating new spaces for offices, commercial premises and parking.
The project addressed a complex challenge: preserving the most representative elements of a Modernist building while meeting the technical and functional requirements of a contemporary property.
The works included the restoration of stonework, balconies, sgraffito decoration, stucco, mosaics and other ornamental features on the façades.
Particular attention was devoted to the circular tower and its dome, whose ceramic coverings had deteriorated through age and exposure to environmental conditions.
The restoration also recovered part of the original colour scheme of the exterior surfaces, along with ornamental details that had lost their definition over time.
The intervention continued over several years and was completed in September 2016. The illumination of the façade and upper pavilion restored some of the building’s former prominence within the urban landscape.
9. New Architecture for a Historic Building
A Dialogue Between Conservation and Innovation
The redevelopment of La Rotonda involved a profound transformation of its interior.
While the historic façades and the most valuable decorative features were restored, the interior spaces were reconstructed and later additions were replaced with contemporary architectural elements.
The result combines the enduring image of the original Modernist building with a new functional organisation.
The intervention incorporated ultra-high-performance concrete panels, known as UHPC, some with curved forms. These elements introduced a contemporary interpretation of the building’s volumes and established a dialogue with the geometry of the historic structure.
This architectural language differs significantly from Modernist ornamentation. In contrast to the decorative richness of stonework, mosaics and sgraffito, the new design favours more abstract surfaces and a restrained composition.
The intention was to reconcile the preservation of historic features with the creation of spaces suitable for offices and commercial activities.
The transformation restored the building’s active use and re-established its presence within Sant Gervasi’s economic landscape.
However, the project also generated controversy over the modifications carried out and questions concerning urban planning regulations and heritage protection.
10. Urban Planning Controversy
Heritage, the City and Architectural Responsibility
The redevelopment of La Rotonda was not without controversy.
Changes to the building and the expansion of its volumes led to an urban planning and legal dispute concerning the protection of architectural heritage.
Several heritage advocacy groups challenged the works and brought the matter before the courts, arguing that the intervention should have complied more strictly with the applicable heritage protection requirements.
In 2018, the High Court of Justice of Catalonia annulled the municipal planning instrument that had provided the legal basis for the redevelopment. This decision initiated a complex process to regularise the building’s planning status.
The controversy highlighted the difficulty of reconciling the preservation of a protected building with its adaptation to new uses and with the profitability and functional requirements associated with a major real estate development.
In July 2024, Barcelona City Council definitively approved a new comprehensive special plan for La Rotonda. The aim was to address the planning deficiencies identified and prevent demolition resulting from the earlier legal situation.
The new planning instrument sought to regularise most of the complex and preserve the building, although debate over the appropriate criteria for heritage intervention continued to form part of La Rotonda’s recent history.
This episode demonstrates that heritage protection involves far more than restoring façades or retaining decorative details. It also requires appropriate urban planning, rigorous interpretation of regulations and careful consideration of the balance between historical memory and urban transformation.
La Rotonda has therefore become a particularly significant case study in understanding the challenges of architectural conservation in contemporary Barcelona.
11. La Rotonda Today
A Historic Building Integrated into Barcelona’s Business Community
As of 2026, La Rotonda continues to operate as a business and commercial complex in one of the most prominent locations in Sant Gervasi.
Following the redevelopment completed in 2016, the property resumed active use through a combination of offices, commercial establishments and parking facilities.
Among its occupants is the American multinational Nike, alongside other companies and businesses serving the everyday needs of the neighbourhood.
The complex also accommodates restaurants, a gym, local shops and services, contributing to the area’s economic activity.
According to the redevelopment project documentation, its surface area is approximately 11,000 square metres, illustrating the scale of an intervention that transformed a former hotel and healthcare facility into a property adapted to the needs of contemporary Barcelona.
La Rotonda no longer operates as a hotel or healthcare facility. Its present identity is defined by the coexistence of architectural heritage and commercial activity.
This evolution demonstrates how a building can undergo radical changes of function without necessarily losing all the features that make it historically significant.
At the same time, the urban planning controversy surrounding its transformation serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a balance between contemporary needs and the preservation of architectural memory.
12. La Rotonda and Barcelona’s Modernist Heritage
A Distinctive Work in the History of the City
Barcelona possesses an extraordinary Modernist heritage, encompassing residential buildings, public facilities, former factories, markets and structures associated with the economic and cultural development of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
La Rotonda occupies a distinctive place within this architectural landscape.
Unlike many Modernist works conceived primarily as private residences, this building followed a trajectory associated with several collective functions: residence, hotel, healthcare facility and business complex.
Each period left its mark on the architecture and its relationship with the surrounding environment.
The circular tower, ceramic dome, sgraffito decoration and sculptural ornamentation continue to express the artistic language of their time, while contemporary interventions illustrate both the possibilities and the challenges of adapting historic buildings to new uses.
La Rotonda may not possess the international symbolic status of Antoni Gaudí’s major monuments, but it represents an important chapter in the architectural history of Sant Gervasi and Barcelona’s expansion towards the mountains.
Its value lies both in its architectural characteristics and in the urban and social history it allows us to reconstruct.
13. What to Look for at La Rotonda
An Architectural Walk Through Its Most Remarkable Details
Observing La Rotonda reveals a variety of features that explain its architectural uniqueness.
Among the most notable are:
- The Modernist façade: A combination of worked stone, sgraffito decoration and botanical ornamentation.
- The balconies and windows: Elements that organise the composition of the different storeys.
- The undulating roofline: A feature that adds movement and dynamism to the building’s silhouette.
- The lateral towers: Structures that contribute to the richness of its overall volume.
- The circular tower: The defining architectural feature of La Rotonda.
- The upper pavilion: A structure supported by eight columns and decorated with mosaics and floral motifs.
- The ceramic dome: Its polychrome finish contrasts with the stone materials of the façade.
- The green dragons: Gargoyle-like figures that have become some of the building’s most striking ornamental details.
- The contemporary concrete panels: Elements that reveal the architectural intervention undertaken during the redevelopment.
Observing these features helps visitors understand the relationship between architecture, decorative arts and urban transformation.
It also allows them to distinguish the building’s different construction phases and appreciate how the restoration sought to recover aspects of its historic appearance.
14. How to Get to La Rotonda
At the Junction of Passeig de Sant Gervasi and Avinguda del Tibidabo
La Rotonda is located in the upper part of Barcelona, within the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district. Its strategic position makes it an excellent starting point for discovering the history of the garden city and the residential developments associated with Tibidabo.
Address: Avinguda del Tibidabo, 2–4, Barcelona.
Its location makes it possible to combine an appreciation of the building with a walk along some of the most characteristic streets and avenues of Barcelona’s upper districts.
Metro and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
Avinguda Tibidabo station, served by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), provides convenient access to the surrounding area.
From there, visitors can continue on foot along the avenue, discovering historic villas and residential architecture that form part of Sant Gervasi’s distinctive urban landscape.
Historic Tramway
The history of the area is closely connected with the former tramway along Avinguda del Tibidabo, which was designed to connect the city with the residential developments in the upper districts.
This transport infrastructure formed part of Salvador Andreu’s urban development project and helped establish the avenue as one of the most distinctive thoroughfares in early twentieth-century Barcelona.
Bus and Other Transport Options
The district is also served by several bus routes.
Its location makes it possible to organise an excursion around Tibidabo and explore the relationship between historic residential developments, transport infrastructure and Barcelona’s expansion towards Collserola.
Please note: La Rotonda is currently a business and commercial complex rather than a monument with guaranteed general tourist access. Entry to offices and interior spaces depends on their use and operating conditions. Viewing the building from the outside is the most suitable option for including it in an architectural walking tour.
15. Would You Like to Discover La Rotonda with Us?
Experience Sant Gervasi from a Different Perspective
Discovering La Rotonda means exploring a chapter of Barcelona’s history in which Modernist architecture, urban development, artistic heritage and social transformation come together.
The experience becomes even more meaningful when accompanied by a knowledgeable and sensitive perspective capable of connecting buildings with the lives of their inhabitants, the forms of nature and the evolution of the city.
At Magic Dreams Barcelona, our guides are native speakers and offer tours in Spanish, Catalan, English and other languages upon request.
They specialise in history, architecture, art, symbolism and botany, with additional knowledge of lepidopterology, ornithology, floriculture and arboriculture, as well as experience with cultural itineraries devoted to Antoni Gaudí and Salvador Dalí.
We invite you to explore Barcelona in greater depth and enjoy exclusive excursions to the Costa Brava and the Catalan Pyrenees through personalised services and meticulous attention to detail.
We organise day trips, week-long stays, weekend getaways and excursions designed around your individual preferences.
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Discover La Rotonda with Magic Dreams Barcelona, beyond its façade: through the history, art and collective memory of a city that continues to reinvent itself.
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