The Venue

Built at the end of the 19th century, the Sede Afundación Social is a historic structure in Vigo’s city center. Jenaro de la Fuente Domínguez, a pioneer of the modernist movement in Vigo, designed the structure, which has an eclectic design. The Casa Bárcena, originally known as Siete casas para particulares, was constructed between 1879 and 1884 for Manuel Bárcena Franco, Count of Torrecedeira, with the goal of making it the most opulent construction project at the time.

It has more than 13,000 square meters of floor space spread over five storeys. It is made of granite and is notable for its rich decoration and ornamentation in keeping with the taste of the bourgeoisie of the time, who wanted buildings with eclectic architecture that reflected their power and social prestige.

The Casa Bárcena was the first great work of the Vigo-born architect in his native city, and after its completion, the architect was to create some of the most beautiful buildings in the city at that time. In 2003, Caixanova refurbished the building, converting it into its social center. With the refurbishment, an interior garden was created in order to provide light to all the floors of the building. In its construction, granite was mixed with large windows and sculptural pieces. In addition to the garden, an upper roof was added.