Calle Pintor Fortuny was a half-dead space, despite almost touching the busy Rambla: it had no exit, because originally it only connected Calle Àngels with Xuclà.
A point that animated such a quiet street was the Gimnàs Solé, located in the central corner of Montjuïc del Carme, an activity that at the end of the century had gained animation, the proof is that the founding of Barça and also other entities and initiatives were forged there. of varied sports sign.
The connection with the Rambla appeared blocked by several buildings that ended up linked to El Siglo, formidable warehouses that, due to their unstoppable growth, needed to expand the surface area.
On Christmas Day 1932 a fire broke out in the shop window; As El Siglo was closed and empty due to such an important festivity, what initially was a spark that ignited the curtain at full speed degenerated into a gigantic and destructive fire. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
The demolition was imposed, which allowed the long-awaited extension of Pintor Fortuny Street and the construction of the Manila Hotel on the corner of the mountain side.
At that moment it was discovered that the large building that housed the Philippine Tobacco Company, designed by the architect Josep Oriol Mestres, only had the opulent façade of the Rambla. It became inevitable to create the side of the extended street. The architect Josep M. Sagnier Vidal was hired, who proposed a complex in stylistic harmony with the academic main façade. Then the rear sector was expanded.
That elegant building was the headquarters of two companies founded by Antonio López, first Marquis of Comillas: the Hispano Colonial bank, installed on the ground floor, and the Tabacos de Filipinas company, on the rest of the floors.
The Pintor Fortuny extension was inaugurated in the middle of the afternoon on March 23, 1935. The official ceremony was presided over by Mayor Joan Pich i Pon. As the authorities arrived, they were received in the rooms of the Hispano Colonial bank. The mayor warned that he was going to give his speech in Catalan, since everyone present understood it. He was restrained and without falling into any of his colorful quips. At the end, the ritual of toasts was carried out in the Philippine Tobacco room.
