Can Jaumandreu

The textile mill, the Vapor de la Llana was built in Poblenou in 1853. Better known as Can Jaumandreu, it was one of Barcelona's most important factories in the 19th century, making major contributions to the textile sector, including the manufacture of fabrics combining wool with cotton and silk.

The Can Jaumandreu industrial complex expanded and grew over the years. By 1868, its workforce numbered more than 600 people, most of them women. In 1873, the owners decided to extend the mill with a new industrial section with an octagonal floor plan and a 35-metre-high chimney. It was designed by Marimon i Clot.

However, as the years went by, and following the crisis in the textile sector, its industrial buildings were occupied by other manufacturers and rented out to small workshops. Eventually, in the year 2000, the Can Jaumandreu industrial complex was acquired and refurbished by Barcelona City Council.

The chimney and central section were preserved and two new buildings added, in the same Manchester style as the old factory, namely exposed brick, a rectangular floor plan and sloping roofs. The complex combines industrial architecture with lightweight materials, like glass and aluminium in a mix of tradition and modernity.

The complex currently houses the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) and the job centre, Can Jaumandreu at Barcelona Activa. It provides career guidance and advice and occupational training.

Can Jaumandreu is an essential part of the industrial heritage and history of Poblenou. This is why we have included it on our Industrial Relics Trail.