The Casa de las Almenas

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Civil architecture · Year: 1903 · Authors: Laureano Arroyo

One of the most unique and important buildings of modernist architecture in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the house occupying the corner between the streets of Pelota and Mesa de León, a construction which from its crenelated stone cornice can be identified with the name of Casa de las Almenas. Catalonian architect Laureano Arroyo is the author of the Casa de las Almenas project. When he came to Gran Canaria from his Catalunya homeland, he would have already known this first Barcelona style modernism. The building we see here display modernist details developed by pioneering architects such as Domenech i Montaner.

Laureano Arroyo's project was approved by the Town Hall at Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1899. Work started on the house in autumn of 1901, and carried on for a further two years; by the end of 1903 is was virtually finished, although some final details were still to be added. The Casa de las Almenas has façades overlooking the small square of Mesa de León and the calle de la Pelota. Within a heavily ornamental approach, typical of the modernist style, are the closed balconies that served as viewing areas. Its glass surrounds are supported by a continual series of stone corbels which is repeated along the three sections of the façade, underneath their respective balcony parapets and windows,and on the upper part, under the crenelated cornice on the same ashlar itself. The stonework is from the quarries at Lomo de Arucas, and was liberally used all over the façade, in accordance with designs by Arroyo and executed by Arucas stonemasons.

28.102011, -15.4148