Girona is a city known throughout the world for the richness of its architecture and heritage. Its Gothic cathedral is merely the most visible and emblematic part of its overall richness, from the city's historical centre, which still retains its medieval structure, extending to the modern part of the city, which was built during the 19th and early 20th centuries. This is why many notable Modernista architectural works can be admired in Girona and also those that can be considered most representative of Noucentisme.
The most renowned architect of modern Girona was undoubtedly Rafael Masó i Valentí (1880-1935). During his studies at the Barcelona School of Architecture, Masó identified with the architecture of Modernisme and especially the work of Antoni Gaudí. At the same time, he joined a group of artists and writers that would soon create an alternative style to Modernisme known as Noucentisme. After graduating from the school in 1906, he began working as an architect in Girona, where he would remain for the rest of this life, which is why most of his work can be found in the city and other Girona provinces. Most of his clients were industrialists, traders, banking entities and major rural landowners in the area. During his honeymoon in 1912, he saw firsthand the modern architecture of Central Europe, some elements of which he integrated into his own work. Masó also supported a return to traditional artistic trades to integrate them into modern architecture in both the ornamentation of buildings and interior decoration. Some of Masó's most notable buildings remaining in Girona are the Bloc Batlle (1909-10), Farinera Teixidor (1910-11), Casa Teixidor ("la Punxa", 1918-22), and Casa Gispert Saüch (1921-23).
During the first half of the 20th century, other architects would design many buildings in Girona at the same time as Masó. These are of great interest now for their different and frequently eclectic views and interpretations of new architectural trends at the time. Some of the most notable names and buildings include Eugeni Campllonch (Casa Franquesa, 1901), Isidre Bosch i Bataller (Casa Furest, 1904; Casa Noguera, 1914), Joan Roca i Pinet (Casa Norat, 1912-13; Casa Rigau, 1914-15), Josep Martí i Burch (Bloc Auguet, 1912) and Enric Catà i Catà (Destil·leries Regàs, 1908; Destil·leries Gerunda, 1911-12).