THE CITY-GARDEN
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The Terramar district development project must be placed in the context of the economic growth and wellbeing that dominated the first two decades of the twentieth century; advances in medicine and a new concept of health; the consolidation of Catalan literature and art in the context of the most pioneering European vanguards, heirs of the end of the century modernist trends; and political stability without involvement in WW I.
The neighborhood dates back to 1919. The driving force behind the creation of a “garden city” in the most western sector of Sitges was the Sabadell industrialist, Francesc Armengol, who, together with other investors, set up a society to carry out the project. The objective was to create in Terramar a place of leisure and relaxation with a wide range of attractions, some of which were to be luxurious. The crisis that shook the Catalan economy during the decade of the twenties forced the promoters to lower their initial expectations, but, despite this, two hotels were built, a park –“Terramar Gardens”- and a score of privately owned detached houses.
The name Terramar was the brainchild of Miquel Utrillo. But what does Terramar mean? Utrillo, just as he had done years earlier when he choose a name for his friend Charles Deering’s house, “Maricel” (Sea and Sky), put together two clear concepts, short names related to territory and orography: Earth and Sea, to become “Terramar”.
THE ORIGIN
During this period, Sitges consolidated the Sociedad Pabellón de Mar (1906); San Juan Bautista Hospital, a modernist design, was built (1912); work was completed on Maricel de Mar, Charles Deering’s residence (1918); Cau Ferrat (1933) and the Santiago Rusiñol Library (1936) were inaugurated; the Sitges Swimming Club (1925) was created, among other projects.
THE ORIGIN – 1906
During this period, Sitges consolidated the Sociedad Pabellón de Mar (1906); San Juan Bautista Hospital, a modernist design, was built (1912); work was completed on Maricel de Mar, Charles Deering’s residence (1918); Cau Ferrat (1933) and the Santiago Rusiñol Library (1936) were inaugurated; the Sitges Swimming Club (1925) was created, among other projects.
THE ORIGIN – 1906
During this period, Sitges consolidated the Sociedad Pabellón de Mar (1906); San Juan Bautista Hospital, a modernist design, was built (1912); work was completed on Maricel de Mar, Charles Deering’s residence (1918); Cau Ferrat (1933) and the Santiago Rusiñol Library (1936) were inaugurated; the Sitges Swimming Club (1925) was created, among other projects.
THE WATERFRONT PROMENADE
In the autumn of 1918, coinciding with the approval of the Terramar urban development project, the town council initiated the process of obtainment of the concession of a waterfront promenade, thus extending the existing one in the urban core as far as the end of the Terramar sector. The coastal strip from the avenue named after Dr. Cayetano Benaprès (the limit between the Vinyet and Terramar sectors) was made up of sand dunes. Two years earlier, in 1916, a monument had been erected in memory of this Sitges doctor.
THE WATERFRONT PROMENADE – 1918
In the autumn of 1918, coinciding with the approval of the Terramar urban development project, the town council initiated the process of obtainment of the concession of a waterfront promenade, thus extending the existing one in the urban core as far as the end of the Terramar sector. The coastal strip from the avenue named after Dr. Cayetano Benaprès (the limit between the Vinyet and Terramar sectors) was made up of sand dunes. Two years earlier, in 1916, a monument had been erected in memory of this Sitges doctor.
THE WATERFRONT PROMENADE – 1918
In the autumn of 1918, coinciding with the approval of the Terramar urban development project, the town council initiated the process of obtainment of the concession of a waterfront promenade, thus extending the existing one in the urban core as far as the end of the Terramar sector. The coastal strip from the avenue named after Dr. Cayetano Benaprès (the limit between the Vinyet and Terramar sectors) was made up of sand dunes. Two years earlier, in 1916, a monument had been erected in memory of this Sitges doctor.
THE CITY-GARDEN
It is in this context that the Terramar Garden City projectmust be set, designed and led by Francesc Armengol i Duran (Sabadell 1886 – Barcelona 1931), Josep Maria Martino i Arroyo (Barcelona 1891 – 1957) and Miquel Utrillo (Barcelona 1862 – Sitges 1934), among others. Their objective was to transform Sitges into one of the most glamorous beaches in the Mediterranean and build an urban complex with all the modern facilities then available, set in abundant green spaces and gardens and offering attractions for the elite tourists of that time.
THE CITY-GARDEN – 1919
It is in this context that the Terramar Garden City projectmust be set, designed and led by Francesc Armengol i Duran (Sabadell 1886 – Barcelona 1931), Josep Maria Martino i Arroyo (Barcelona 1891 – 1957) and Miquel Utrillo (Barcelona 1862 – Sitges 1934), among others. Their objective was to transform Sitges into one of the most glamorous beaches in the Mediterranean and build an urban complex with all the modern facilities then available, set in abundant green spaces and gardens and offering attractions for the elite tourists of that time.
THE CITY-GARDEN – 1919
It is in this context that the Terramar Garden City projectmust be set, designed and led by Francesc Armengol i Duran (Sabadell 1886 – Barcelona 1931), Josep Maria Martino i Arroyo (Barcelona 1891 – 1957) and Miquel Utrillo (Barcelona 1862 – Sitges 1934), among others. Their objective was to transform Sitges into one of the most glamorous beaches in the Mediterranean and build an urban complex with all the modern facilities then available, set in abundant green spaces and gardens and offering attractions for the elite tourists of that time.
THE FIRST BUILDINGS
In Sitges Armengol found his uncut jewel, a large stretch of land bordering on the sea, consisting of sandy areas and vineyards, delimited by the road to Vilanova, the railway track, the Miralpeix flood-stream and with an uninterrupted view of the Mediterranean Sea. What he had in mind was to build a luxurious garden city like those that were then springing up in other European cities. This project would introduce improvements intended to attract discerning visitors and tourists to Sitges, who were interested in the new twentieth century leisure activities, such as sport and culture, or were looking for opportunities to escape from their work environment in Barcelona or other European cities.
THE FIRST BUILDINGS – 1927
In Sitges Armengol found his uncut jewel, a large stretch of land bordering on the sea, consisting of sandy areas and vineyards, delimited by the road to Vilanova, the railway track, the Miralpeix flood-stream and with an uninterrupted view of the Mediterranean Sea. What he had in mind was to build a luxurious garden city like those that were then springing up in other European cities. This project would introduce improvements intended to attract discerning visitors and tourists to Sitges, who were interested in the new twentieth century leisure activities, such as sport and culture, or were looking for opportunities to escape from their work environment in Barcelona or other European cities.
THE FIRST BUILDINGS – 1927
In Sitges Armengol found his uncut jewel, a large stretch of land bordering on the sea, consisting of sandy areas and vineyards, delimited by the road to Vilanova, the railway track, the Miralpeix flood-stream and with an uninterrupted view of the Mediterranean Sea. What he had in mind was to build a luxurious garden city like those that were then springing up in other European cities. This project would introduce improvements intended to attract discerning visitors and tourists to Sitges, who were interested in the new twentieth century leisure activities, such as sport and culture, or were looking for opportunities to escape from their work environment in Barcelona or other European cities.
