Constructed during the Second Spanish Republic in Barcelona by architects Josep Lluís Sert, Josep Torres Clavé and Joan Baptista Subirana, the Casa Bloc was built using the ideologies of the GATCPAC (Grup d’Artistes i Tècnics Catalans pel Progrés de l’Arquitectura Contemporània, Group of Artists and Technicians for the progress of Catalan Contemporary Architecture). It proposed a new way of living that focused on community and co-existence, and aimed to improve the living conditions of workers. The Casa Bloc project was halted by the Spanish Civil War, but was recognised by the Generalitat de Catalunya as a protected heritage in 1992.
As a unique example of socially committed rationalist architecture, Museu del Disseny de Barcelona restored part of it to its original structure and design. Casa Bloc falls in line with the museum's dedication to understanding the design of objects and areas, and was therefore restored with careful precision to showcase the creators' intentions. Apartment-House 1/11 is the apartment-museum run by Disseny, offering guided tours of Room 1/11 to visitors in tribute to the innovative approach of the architects in the 1930s.
Casa Bloc, Apartment 1/11 is a member of the Iconic Houses, the international network connecting architecturally significant houses from the 20th century that are open to the public.