The building is in the suburban part of Tortosa, on a plot right next to the 14th-centruy wall and the
gate of Sant Joan del Camp (also known as the Framenors or Sant Francesc gate), on the corner of Carrer
de l'Estació (now Carrer de Cervantes) and Carrer de la Unió (now Carrer de Teodor González). The
property was originally owned by Maria de l'Assumpció Tomŕs i Subirats, the widow of Francesc Margenat
i Tarragó. They did not have any children of their own, so it was passed down to their adopted daughter
Maria de l'Assumpció Canalda i Claramunt and her husband Salvador Brunet i Sala.
The new owners of the plot decided to build the house and commissioned the project from Josep Maria
Vaquer, an architect who, in stylistic terms, was a conceptually eclectic aestheticist whose work was
defined by the profusion of ornamentation. Vaquer, who graduated in architecture in 1888, stood out
for his technical skill in a wide range of architectural styles and at that time was hard at work in
the city, where he built Matheu House, Llorca House, Sequi House (López Vergés) and Albacar House. He
built Climent House in 1910, the Siboni building in 1911, Brunet House in 1913 and Sabater House in
1914.
So, the building was constructed in 1913 and was named after its owner. The upper floor was the living
area and the ground floor was used for a branch of the Banc Comercial de Barcelona bank, which was based
there in the twenties and possibly well into the thirties. During the 1936-1939 civil war, the building
was occupied by the CNT/FAI and was spared the devastating effects of aerial and artillery bombardment.
When the war ended, the premises were returned to their rightful owners and rented to Acadčmia Cots, an
educational centre that permanently set up there.
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In 1961, Salvador Brunet died. His widow, Maria de l'Assumpció Canalda, remained the owner, but married
Ramon Cinca i Piquer, the manager of the educational centre, who became the owner of the building in 1977,
when his wife died. The building was a constant source of attraction for the city folk, who admired its
wealth of ornamentation, and it was included in the Catalogue of Subsidiary Planning Regulations of
Tarragona Province in 1979, and then in 1983 was added to the Catalogue of the General Plan of Tortosa.
The original plans are kept in the historical archive and the Official Architects Association of Tortosa
has a photographic copy.
Ramon Cinca took particular care of the building, restoring and improving it and always keeping it in
excellent condition. On his death in 1989, he bequeathed Brunet House to the Cinca Piquer Foundation,
which he had set up. The educational centre, which needed more space, moved to a neighbouring building
and Casa Brunet fell into disuse. Its interior decoration, furniture and the works of art purchased by
the owner are of particular importance and value.
Ramon Miravall
Doctor of Philosophy
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