From an early age, Berenguer i Mestres (1866-1914) collaborated closely with Gaudí, and became his close friend. His mutual understanding with Guadí in architecture was so deep (he colaborated very actively in “Palau Güell” (Palace) and “Colonia Güell” and the “Sagrada Familia”), that one of his best known works “Bodega Güell” (1887) is often attributed to Gaudí himself. In 1883, Berenguer finished “Llibertat” market, in what was then the town of Gràcia, (to be included in Barcelona City a few years later), where he began to live. He soon took root in the intense cultural associative life of Gracia and erected many of his works there.

Casa - Museo del Park Güell de Barcelona

These were both private dwellings (numbers 15, 50, 77, 196 and 237 Carrer Major) and public buildings, like the façade of the district Town hall in “Rius i Taulet” Square (1905), and religious ones, like the conversion of the church of “Sant Joan” (St John) (1909), in Virreina Square and the sanctuary of “Sant Josep de la Muntanya”. Berenguer died prematurely at the age of 47, in full artistic activity.

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