To find the Edificio Cánovas, look up and spot the tall, yellowish building with five floors, lots of windows, and elegant curved corners right on the edge of Navellos street-trust me, you can't miss those sweeping lines!
Now, picture yourself in Valencia back in the early 1930s. The jazz age is giving way to something new, and the city’s heart is about to get a touch of modern flair. Luis Albert Ballesteros, a local architect, had a tough decision-should he dress his new creation in old-fashioned style or take a risk with the “rationalist” look everyone was talking about? After a few years of back-and-forth (and, no doubt, a few cups of strong Valencian coffee), he picked a bold, geometric design with dramatic curves. It's as if the building decided to do a little tango right on the corner! The façade facing Navellos street has an almost theatrical vibe with its expressionist features, while the other sides tone it down with smooth, sharp rationalist lines-talk about a building with more than one personality. Inside, you’d find hints of art deco, with details that make you want to throw on a vintage suit and say, “darling, shall we dance?” Originally built for both homes and offices, Edificio Cánovas still stands as a symbol of a time when Valencia dared to dream in modern shapes.
