You cannot start building a house from the roof. Nor can you design a space without good foundations. However, when a project is finished, it is often the furniture or decoration that captivates all eyes. But before these final details arrive, there is a less visible but essential base: construction and interior design materials, from wood to ceramics and tiles that are seen, walked on, and touched every day.
This universe of construction materials has been the foundation upon which Jòdul has built its business: a three-generation family company with six decades of history that today bills more than 22 million euros annually.
A long trajectory that, far from diluting with the passage of years, has gained particular momentum in the last decade, with sustained growth of around 10% annually. This evolution now has a physical translation with a new showroom in Barcelona (Muntaner, 408), conceived not only to display materials, but also to generate a meeting point and support professionals in their projects.
In reality, the brand, born and based in Taradell (Osona), already had a presence in Barcelona since 2016, when they opened a first space on Numancia street. Now, the move to Muntaner street is not just a change of address, but a leap in scale: the space goes from 200 to 800 square meters and allows for a better display of its selection of ceramics, coverings, water areas, bathrooms, and kitchens.
Beyond the exhibition of materials, Aman Cabanas, commercial and marketing manager of Jòdul and a member of the third family generation, argues that the company's vision goes beyond the simple supply of materials: "We are not just distributors, although the business obviously involves buying and selling. Our job is to help the architect find the most suitable materials for each project."
The foundations: two beginnings, one same trajectory
Although Aman Cabanas is part of the third family generation at the helm of the business, Jòdul's history actually has two points of origin. The first dates back to 1973, when the family's grandparents started a first business venture linked to the distribution of construction materials.
That business would eventually be sold, but the experience passed on to the next generation and it was in 1992 when Josep Cabanas and Dolors Bofarull founded a kitchen store in Vic. From the names of the two partners, the Jòdul brand was born, and three years later, in 1995, the Taradell facilities for the distribution of construction materials and interior products were inaugurated.
From this central headquarters in Osona, the company has woven an offer that ranges from basic construction materials to high-end finishes for hotels and unique residential projects. Parquets, woods, faucets, sanitary ware, and kitchens are part of a catalog that seeks to meet the needs of architects, interior designers, construction companies, and individuals. "The goal is to offer a wide range of materials, prices, and also types of projects," summarizes Cabanas. A breadth that has led them to participate in both private renovations and international hotels or projects driven by Catalan clients in places as distant as Zanzibar.
"Each space requires different features, aesthetics, and budget," Cabanas emphasizes. Although it does not manufacture its own products, Jòdul works with a wide range of brands, from high-end international manufacturers such as Mutina, Marazzi, Dornbracht, Duravit, or Dica to more competitive options. This diversity has allowed it to participate in very diverse projects: from hotels such as Finca Victoria (Marriott), SLS Barcelona, Princess or The Hoxton to restaurants such as Paninaro or Bar La Esquina, the stores of Freshly Cosmetics, workspaces such as WeWork or even the restoration of Casa Batlló, where it supplied materials for the bathrooms. All this, without forgetting private homes or subsidized housing developments.
The space: a leap in scale
"When I make a budget, I always point out that an interior is like driving a car: you can do the same journey with a Seat or with a Ferrari. It's the client who decides. The same bathroom can cost 5,000 euros or 15,000 depending on the materials chosen," explains Martí Nualart, founder of Nualart Studio and a regular client of Jòdul.
Precisely to accommodate this variety of materials and projects, the company has opened a new showroom in Barcelona after the previous space on Numancia street became too small. The new premises, located on Muntaner street, add 800 square meters —three times more than the previous one— and have involved an investment of 800,000 euros.
Designed by Nualart himself, the space opts for "serene and luminous architecture," as Nualart defends. The double height, luminosity, and visibility from the street seek to offer a break from the frantic pace of any renovation and create an environment conducive to inspiration. More than a product exhibition, the showroom is conceived as a meeting point for architects, interior designers, engineers, and construction companies, who can work on projects, discover new collections, or even join the events they organize.
This philosophy of inspiration is evident from the entrance, presided over by a large material library where, instead of books, the shelves display ceramics and finishes designed to inspire new projects.
Although the objective of this new space is not necessarily to increase the number of clients, but to offer a better service to regular studios, Jòdul expects to close 2026 with a turnover growth of around 15%.