Martorell, Bohigas & Mackay

MARTORELL, BOHIGAS & MACKAY
JOSEP MARIA MARTORELL (Barcelona, 1925–2017), ORIOL BOHIGAS (Barcelona, 1925–2021) & DAVID MACKAY (Eastbourne, United Kingdom, 1933 – Barcelona, 2014)
MBM Fireplace. Barcelona, ca. 1960.
Black-lacquered metal.
Original paint in very good condition, with some signs of wear.
Measurements: 193 x 75 x 75 cm.

MBM fireplace designed by MBM Arquitectes around 1960, made of black-lacquered metal. The piece translates the studio’s architectural language into the domestic sphere: clear geometry, bold volumes, and a functional presence understood almost as a structure.

Its silhouette is defined by sloping planes, sharp edges, and a vertical profile reminiscent of small-scale industrial architecture. The black color accentuates the solidity of the piece and reinforces its graphic character, while the open firebox and lower grate convey a clear sense of function without any added ornamentation.

This model was used in various residential projects by the MBM studio, which enhances its significance as a design object linked to postwar Catalan architecture. The piece retains its original paint in very good condition, with some signs of wear consistent with its function and age.

MBM Arquitectes traces its origins to the collaboration that began in 1951 between Josep Maria Martorell and Oriol Bohigas; in 1962, David Mackay joined the firm, giving rise to the Martorell-Bohigas-Mackay studio. Associated with the R Group and the Barcelona School, the firm played a key role in the renewal of Catalan architecture in the second half of the 20th century, with a body of work characterized by functionality, structural rigor, and attention to the urban context.