From Mercedes Apartments to Marlau Building

The 1920s and 1930s were crucial for the local tourism of Sant Feliu de Guíxols. In 1919, Pere Rius i Calvet, who later gave his name to the promenade, bought the Balneario Guixolense and transformed it into the elegant Baños de Sant Elm, which became the only facilities of their kind on the Girona coast. The popularity of the area led to the construction of the iconic Mercedes Apartments in 1950; perhaps you have heard of them or even stayed there.

The Mercedes Apartments were a complex of 20 apartments designed and built by architect Eusebi Bona i Puig (1890-1972), a professor at the School of Architecture of Barcelona. He constructed the apartments as a magnificent example of modern 20th-century architecture, making the most of the site’s characteristics, giving each apartment good orientation, ventilation, a terrace, and magnificent views. He adapted the buildings to the complex topography to avoid spoiling the overall view and integrated them into the landscape as retaining walls for the steep slope.

The success of the building was immediate, reaching its peak between 1960 and 2000. Both tourists visiting the city and young people after going to the old and famous Guixolense nightclub, Palm Beach, stayed there. Over time, the atmosphere became very family-oriented, as families rented year after year, repeating their stay.

The Mercedes Apartments were in operation for almost 70 years. Finques Cel Blau managed the exclusive marketing and sale between 2017 and 2018, eventually being purchased by a local developer who renamed them "Marlau Building."

It was then that a project was presented to restore the facade and exterior of the two blocks; the aim was to improve the state of the construction and the facilities, fixing the communal area (parking lots, terraces, enclosures, etc.) and equipping them with elevators to revive and modernize this emblematic space.

Along with the renovation project, the horizontal division was carried out, converting the two blocks into individual apartments with one and two bedrooms. The renovation work was completed in 2018, and the promotion was so successful that by the end of 2019, each apartment already had a new owner.

Some decided to settle there, others renovated the interior of the property to then rent or sell it, and others were interested in offering it as a vacation rental.

To this day, many clients still arrive who remember their anecdotes from the old Mercedes Apartments and can relive them by renting one of the Marlau apartments. Due to its unbeatable location and the building's excellent conditions, it is a perfect destination to spend a few days on the seafront with all the comforts.