Cooperativa d'Arquitectes Jordi Capell « la Capell »

What Cooperativa d'Arquitectes Jordi Capell « la Capell » does

Cooperativa d'Arquitectes Jordi Capell « la Capell » is a Barcelona-based cooperative (SCCL) founded in 1977, operating a specialized multi-category retail platform serving architects, design professionals, architecture students, and — since approximately 2021 — the general public and tourists. The core offering spans eight product categories: Papereria (specialized technical stationery, drafting supplies, and model-making materials), Llibreria (architecture books and publications), Espais (home and living products), Gourmet (food and beverage), Urban (lifestyle accessories), Jocs (toys and games), Singulars (designer items and art), and Informàtica (IT equipment, CAD/BIM software, plotters). The company operates nine physical retail locations across Barcelona, embedded within the Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya (the flagship three-floor store), Casa Vicens, Palau de la Música Catalana, DHub (Disseny Hub Barcelona), the Maritime Museum, MUHBA (Museu d'Història de Barcelona), Ve de Barcelona (El Born), and ETSAB (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya), plus a kiosk at Plaça Nova. Distribution is augmented by a trilingual e-commerce website (Catalan, Spanish, English) with 24-hour delivery across Spain and 2-hour urgent delivery within Barcelona.

The business model combines one-time retail transactions with a subscription-style cooperative membership tier: architects and other professionals join as members (soci) to access discounted pricing on the catalog, while non-members and walk-in customers pay standard retail prices. The cooperative is legally structured as a non-profit (sense ànim de lucre) entity owned by its members, with no external investors or parent company. Revenue therefore derives from product sales (across eight categories, plus member vs. non-member price discrimination) and member contributions, with fulfillment supported by both the embedded institutional retail network and a national e-commerce delivery infrastructure. Customer acquisition relies on a mix of social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), email newsletters, organic walk-in foot traffic at cultural-venue locations, and the institutional pull of partner organizations including the Col·legi d'Arquitectes and the Institut de Cultura de l'Ajuntament de Barcelona. The underlying technology is a standard multilingual e-commerce platform with member account management, shopping cart, and newsletter subscription; no proprietary AI/ML, app, or API layer is present in the disclosed stack.

Name

Cooperativa d'Arquitectes Jordi Capell « la Capell »

Legal name

Cooperativa d'Arquitectes Jordi Capell, SCCL

Website

https://lacapell.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cooperativa d'Arquitectes Jordi Capell « la Capell » is a Barcelona-based architects' cooperative founded in 1977 that operates nine retail locations and an e-commerce platform selling architecture books, specialized stationery, design goods, and lifestyle products to members, design professionals, students, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail sales of architecture books and supplies: The cooperative generates revenue through direct retail sales of architecture books, stationery, design products, and specialty items to members (architects) and the general public. Products are sold at member discount prices and regular retail prices.
2. Cooperative membership fees and member discounts: Members of the cooperative pay for the privilege of membership, receiving access to discounted prices on products. The organization is described as non-profit (subministrament, sense ànim de lucre), focused on supplying articles for use and consumption to members.
3. E-commerce online sales: Online sales through their website with shipping across Spain, including 24-hour delivery for in-stock catalog products and 2-hour urgent delivery within Barcelona city.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cooperativa d'Arquitectes Jordi Capell « la Capell » is a Barcelona-based retail cooperative that sells specialized architecture books, technical stationery, design and home products, gourmet goods, urban lifestyle items, toys, designer pieces, and IT/CAD equipment. It operates nine physical shops across Barcelona (mostly embedded in cultural institutions such as the Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya, Casa Vicens, Palau de la Música, DHub, and several museums) alongside a multilingual e-commerce site serving Catalonia and the rest of Spain with member-discount pricing for cooperative members and standard pricing for the general public.

Product overview

Cooperativa d'Arquitectes Jordi Capell « la Capell » is a specialized cooperative bookstore and retail shop serving architects and the general public since 1977. The offering consists of a multi-category retail platform with physical stores across Barcelona and an e-commerce website. The core products are organized into eight main categories: Papereria (Stationery) providing office supplies, model-making materials, and drawing instruments; Llibreria (Bookshop) specializing in architecture books, design publications, and children's/juvenile literature; Espais (Spaces) for home living products including lighting and furniture; Gourmet featuring food and beverage products; Urban lifestyle products; Jocs (Games) for toys and educational items; Singulars for unique designer jewelry and artwork; and Informàtica (IT) offering computer equipment, software (CAD/BIM), workstations, and technology services. The stores are located at various cultural venues in Barcelona including the Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya, Casa Vicens, Palau de la Música Catalana, and other museum locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Papereria (Stationery) Specialized stationery and office-supply category for architects and professionals: paper (printer, large-format, cardstock, notebooks, drawing blocks), adhesives, classification and archiving materials (project folders, drawing folders, plan tubes, drawer modules), desk accessories, drawing and writing instruments, office machinery (cutters, shredders, binders, laminators), topography and measurement tools, and office furniture. Targets architecture professionals and the general public shopping at retail prices.
• Llibreria (Architecture & Design Bookshop) Architecture-focused bookstore assortment covering architects and projects, typologies, theory, interior design, design, cities, Barcelona, art, computer science for architecture, housing, children's architecture, magazines, technology, bioclimatic architecture, urbanism, regulations, and general literature/audiovisual materials. Targets architects, design professionals, students and the general public.
• Espais (Home & Living Spaces) Home and living category including lighting (ceiling, wall, floor, table lamps, flexos), gardening and exteriors, technology and electronics, tables and desks, seating, shelves and organizers, other furniture, cooking and tableware, decoration and accessories, textiles, and cleaning products. Targets design-conscious consumers.
• Gourmet Food and beverage assortment including wines and sparkling wines, gourmet products (ham, sausage, cheese, preserves, oil, vinegar, spices, chocolates, nougat), gourmet drinks, gift bundles, liqueurs, tea and coffee, supermarket basics, and snack items. Targets gift buyers and design-conscious consumers.
• Urban (Urban Lifestyle) Urban lifestyle assortment: bags, backpacks and suitcases, clothing and accessories, gadgets and lighting, mobility items, takeaway products, technology items, optics and meteorology, prêt-à-porter jewelry, and wristwatches. Targets general consumers and design enthusiasts.
• Jocs (Games & Toys) Toys and games assortment including construction toys, motor games, sensory-stimulation toys, symbolic play, board games, crafts, electronic games, and children's/youth books. Targets families and gift buyers at venue locations.
• Singulars (Designer & Author Pieces) Curated designer and author items including jewelry from Catalan designers, photography, furniture pieces, and graphic art and sculpture from artists such as Francesc Hereu, Marta Cervelló, and Oscar Tusquets Blanca. Targets design enthusiasts and gift buyers.
• Informàtica (IT / CAD-BIM Equipment & Software) Computer and technology solutions for architects and professionals: workstations, portable computers, monitors, plotters, printers, software (office automation, CAD/BIM, measurements, antivirus), accessories, clearance, second-hand equipment, Digital Kit services, photocopiers, fiber and mobile (with O2), and computer maintenance services. Targets architecture practices and small businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 retail locations across Barcelona's key cultural institutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, minor and core.

• Institut de Cultura de l'Ajuntament de BarcelonasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Capell operates with the support of the Institut de Cultura de l'Ajuntament de Barcelona (Institute of Culture of the Barcelona City Council), which provides institutional backing for their activities promoting architecture and design culture in Barcelona.
• BramonaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBramona applies a discount to all La Capell members showing their La Capell membership card. This partnership provides additional value to cooperative members.
• Col·legi d'Arquitectes de CatalunyacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMain host location for La Capell. The cooperative was founded by architects and operates its primary store within the Col·legi d'Arquitectes premises at Plaça Nova 5, Barcelona.
• Casa VicenscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLa Capell operates a shop within Casa Vicens (Gaudí's first house), open daily. Free entry for La Capell members. Located at Carrer de les Carolines 20, Barcelona.
• Palau de la Música CatalanacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLa Capell operates a shop within the Palau de la Música Catalana (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Products include Palau-themed items, books, stationery, and gifts. Hours: 10-20h daily.
• Disseny Hub Barcelona (DHub)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLa Capell operates within DHub, Barcelona's design hub. Features design products, furniture, and proximity design items. Seasonal hours vary.
• Museu Marítim de BarcelonacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLa Capell shop within the Maritime Museum. Offers books, gifts, and maritime-themed items. Hours: 10-20h daily.
• Museu d'Història de Barcelona (MUHBA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLa Capell operates within the History Museum of Barcelona (MUHBA) at Baixada de la Llibreteria 7. Focus on Barcelona history books and related items.
• Ve de Barcelona (El Born)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLa Capell shop within Ve de Barcelona initiative at El Born. Features Barcelona-themed books, design products, and gastronomy items. Extended Sunday hours.
• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (ETSAB)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLa Capell operates within ETSAB (School of Architecture) at Diagonal 649. Serves architecture students with specialized materials and textbooks. Hours follow academic calendar.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Laie: Spanish bookstore and cultural café chain operating physical stores and online sales with a curated book and design-object catalog. Comparable to La Capell as a multi-location specialty bookstore with a cultural/experiential retail model and similar presence in Barcelona.
• Abacus Cooperativa: Catalan cooperative focused on education, culture, and consumer goods including books, stationery, and school supplies. Closely comparable to La Capell because of its cooperative structure, Catalan identity, and multi-category retail offering (books, stationery, toys, design).

Others

• Bramona: Barcelona-based local artisan/organic products brand that offers discounts to La Capell members. Comparable to La Capell as a Barcelona-based design and gourmet lifestyle partner whose products are sold through La Capell's Gourmet and Singulars categories.

Broad incumbents

• Casa del Libro: Spain's largest bookstore chain, with both physical stores and a strong e-commerce platform selling books, stationery, and gift items. Comparable to La Capell as a books-and-stationery omnichannel retailer, though at significantly larger scale and without the architecture specialization.
• FNAC Spain: Spanish arm of the French culture/electronics retailer selling books, music, IT, and lifestyle goods across physical and online channels. Comparable to La Capell as a multi-category cultural/IT retailer with a Barcelona presence, but serving a much broader mass-market audience.
• Amazon Spain: Dominant online marketplace selling books, stationery, IT equipment, and design goods across Spain with fast delivery. Comparable to La Capell's e-commerce channel as a competing destination for the same architecture books, supplies, and computer products, with vastly superior scale and catalog depth.

Emerging players

• Picasso Store / Museu Picasso Botiga: Museum gift shop operation within Barcelona's Museu Picasso, selling art books, prints, and design gifts. Comparable to La Capell's museum-embedded stores (Museu Marítim, MUHBA) as a cultural-institution retail model selling books and themed gifts to tourists and culture visitors.
• Triade Art Store: Barcelona-based specialty retailer of artist, architecture, and design materials including technical stationery, drawing instruments, and craft supplies. Comparable to La Capell's Papereria and Singulars categories for architecture and design professionals in the same regional market.

Regional players

• Documenta Barcelona: Barcelona-based architecture-focused bookstore specializing in architecture, design, urbanism, and art publications. The most direct specialty competitor to La Capell's bookshop category, serving a similar architect and design professional audience in Barcelona.
• RIBA Bookshop: UK-based architecture bookshop run by the Royal Institute of British Architects, selling architecture and design publications. Comparable to La Capell as an institutionally backed architecture-specialist bookstore, though operating from a single UK location rather than multiple Barcelona venues.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lacapell_com
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOKFzwO8OxDehe1Mk6sgM-g
• Facebookfacebook.com/CoopLaCapell
• Instagraminstagram.com/lacapell_com
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lacapell

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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