CAPILLA Fireplace, 1952

"The Capilla fireplace design was made in 1952. The main goal was to achieve a widely distributed and very useful model. Its proper functioning and heating performance were essential. For this reason it was made with a 2 mm thick iron plate. In the early 50s, unlike nowadays, there were no fireplace manufacturers who could guarantee their proper functioning.

The town of Mahon in the Balear Islands was for years a British colony. Its inhabitants built a type of fireplace adapted to the island's climate. Lately it was built with pieces of precast concrete which gave the hearth its shape. Once the pieces were assembled, the apparent shape was given with masonry. The process was long and complicated and the decomposition of the concrete pieces in contact with the fire was very fast.

DAVID CARDELÚS

Main view

PINTEREST

Front view

CATALÁ ROCA/CODERCH ARCHIVE

Living room

CATALÁ ROCA/CODERCH ARCHIVE

Detailed plan

With the evolution of the surface of the houses towards smaller spaces, a fireplace proporcionate to this new demand of the era became necessary. This model was quickly widespread. The main reasons were:
a) The fast delivery of the fully finished product.
b) The guarantee of proper functioning.
c) The simplicity of installation.
d) Its extraordinary heating performance.
e) The possibility of installation in very tight spaces; and, finally, thanks to its very simple and discreet forms, it integrates in any environment."

J.A. Coderch de Sentmenat