Casa Bardin: a modernist icon and cultural venue in Alicante

It is not only in Barcelona that you can see and visit buildings in the Modernista style. In Alicante, in the middle of the Explanada de España, stands the popular Casa Bardin. With a clear influence of Catalan modernism, this large property with its white, red and yellow façade is the current headquarters of the Instituto Alicantino de Cultura Juan Gil-Albert. Although the building has undergone several extensions and renovations, it retains original elements from the year it was completed (1901), such as the railings, display cases, ornaments and window and door frames. In another era, the house was owned by the Bardin family, a French family that was dedicated to the wine business until their arrival in Alicante, when they commissioned the architect Enrique Sánchez Sedeño to build their home. Nowadays, the Bardin House can be visited through the IAC Juan Gil-Albert, a cultural centre that organises numerous exhibitions and events.