Barcelona, a case SOUTH-EAST FORUM COASTAL PARK (2004) 11 Architect: Foreign Office Architecture + Teresa Galí (landscape design) MEDIA-TIC (2010) TICKETS (2011) Address: Rambla de Prim, 1 study boomtown BARCELONA CENTRE FOR Architect: cloud9 Architect: Albert y Ferrán Adria + El Equipo Creativo Address: Carrer de Roc Boronat, 117-121 (Oliver Franz Schmidt + Natali Canas del Pozo) CONTEMPORARY CULTURE (CCCB) 16 1 (2011) Contributed by: gonzalezdioslydia Address: Avinguda Paral·lel, 164 6 Architect: Martinez Lapeña-Torres Architects Address: Montalegre, 5 Contributed by: MI_MOA The city of Barcelona is considered one of the most culturally relevant urban INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED ARCHITECTURE OF CATALONIA centres in Spain. Currently, it represents an intercultural hub where a robust FORUM BUILDING (2004) (IAAC) (2003) Architect: Herzog & de Meuron 17 Address: Carrer de Pujades, 102 exchange of ideas and identity continually thrives. Individuals with highly 12 Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 1 creative backgrounds are migrating to its enriching and inspirational Contributed by: Naomi FÁBRICA MORITZ (2013) setting to further develop concepts and projects. In terms of contemporary Architect: Ateliers Jean Nouvel 7 Address: Ronda Sant Antoni, 41 architecture, the Catalonian capital is the heart of talent in Spain. FIRA GRAN VIA EXHIBITION CENTRE (2004) BARCELONA (ES) — TEXT: GONZALO HERRERO DELICADO & MARIA JOSÉ MARCOS, ILLUSTRATION: HARMEN VAN DER HORST 2 Architect: Toyo Ito Associates Address: Avenida Juan Carlos I, Hospitalet de Llobregat rchitects in Barcelona contribute to this success The vigorous development of Barcelona has been sup- government has transformed Barcelonainto a city brand, through a huge number of initiatives in support ported by three main areas of urban growth, which we will reinforcing its tourism industry and international value. of architecture, such as exhibitions, conferences, tour in this guide. Firstly, great progress occurred because We begin our tour with a visit to the hill, Montjuïc, INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION A CENTRE (CCIB) (2004) festivals and awards. In recent decades, architectural of the 1992 Olympic Games, directed by former Chief Archi- where the Barcelona International Exhibition was held 13 Architect: Mateo Arquitectura and urban development in the city has been recognized tect Oriol Bohigas. Secondly, in 2004, the Universal Forum in 1929 – the main incentive to build the first large-scale (Josep Lluís Mateo) GAS NATURAL HEADQUARTERS Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 1 (2006) as among the best in the world. There are several reasons of Cultures attempted to create a similar experience but development in the city. Coming from the airport, the bus Contributed by: MI_MOA behind this concentration of talent. Most notably, it is the with dull results, which involved the regeneration of an stops at España Square, where you can walk along the 18 Architect: EMBT (Enric Miralles + Benedetta Tagliabue) seat of excellent architects like Antoni Gaudí, seven of area on the eastern side of Avinguda Diagonal, the main majestic Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina. At the end HOTEL ROOM MATE PAU (2012) Address: Carrer dels Pinzón, 1 whose works have been declared UNESCO World Heritage cross-city artery. Lastly, there is a zone of reactivation cur- of the avenue you will arrive at the western side of Architect: Teresa Sapey Contributed by: Naomi 8 Address: Carrer Fontanella, 7 Sites. Another highlight is the unique 133 × 133-metre rently still under construction: the 22@ district, a business Montjuïc, where two fabulous icons of modern architec- grid conceived by urban planner Ildefonso Cerdà for the development suburb in Barcelona’s formerly industrial area ture are located: the German Pavillion and the Joan Miró Eixample district. The local government is aware of archi- of Poblenou, with which the primary aim is to create a new Foun dation, which, although of exceptional quality, are tecture’s relevance here, and therefore created the post of technology, innovation and enterprise incubation quarter. already familiar to many. Climbing to the eastern side of Chief Architect to oversee architectural affairs in the city. Through these significant interventions, the Catalonian Montjuïc, we find the location of the Sant Jordi Sports Pavilion, designed by Arata Isozaki. This was the main venue of the ’92 Olympic Games. To complete our Montjuïc expedition, it is appropriate to stop for lunch in one of the most sophisticated dining spots in Spain, the restaurant Tickets (1) by Albert & Ferrán Adriá, BARCELONETA MARKET (2011) located on Avinguda del Paral·lel and outfitted with a fresh HOTEL SANTOS PORTA FIRA (2010) Architect: MiAS Arquitectes and bizarre design by El Equipo Creativo, a Barcelona- Architect: Toyo Ito Associates + b720 Arquitectos 19 Address: Carrer del Baluart, 23 3 Address: Plaza Europa, 45, Hospitalet de Llobregat Contributed by: miasarquitectes based firm.Toyo Ito, the distinguished 2013 Pritzker Prize 10 – 14 winner, also found a place to develop his projects in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, a neighbourhood in the west of 15 the city. Called the Gran Via Exhibition Centre (2), it is 16 the primary location for new trade fair technology in the 9 DIAGONAL MAR PARK (2002) 8 4,5 17 city. Next to this pavilion you will be able to find accom- Architect: EMBT (Enric Miralles + 7 6 18 modations for the night in one of the most extraordinary 14 Benedetta Tagliabue) Address: Av. Diagonal / Cinturón 1 19 skyscrapers in the city, designed by Ito together with Ronda Litoral 2,3 20 b720 Arquitectos: the Hotel Porta Fira (3), a sinuous Contributed by: MVar red tower adjacent to an office building, also by Ito, that reflects the hotel in its design. ANTONI TÀPIES FOUNDATION (2010) The second day of the tour will start on Passeig de Architect: Lluís Domènech i Montaner HOTEL OMM (2007) Gràcia, the most famous boulevard of the city, where many 4 (original building), Ábalos+Sentkiewicz Architect: Juli Capella, Sandra Tarruella Arquitectos (extension) 9 (interior design), Isabel López exclusive shops and several Gaudí monuments can be Address: Carrer d’Aragó, 255 Address: Carrer Rosselló, 265 found. Stop by the Antoni Tàpies Foundation (4), housed in a building designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, iconic architect of the Catalan Modernist style, in 1884. The well-known team of Ábalos + Sentkiewicz recently The vigorous development of Barcelona has been MERCAT DE SANTA CATERINA (2005) NORTH FORUM COASTAL PARK ME BARCELONA (2008) HOTEL W BARCELONA (2010) Architect: EMBT (Enric Miralles + (2004) Architect: Dominique Perrault + AIA Architect: Ricardo Bofill supported by three main 5 Benedetta Tagliabue) 10 Architect: Ábalos & Herreros 15 Salazar Navarro 20 Address: Plaça Rosa dels Vents, 1 Address: Avinguda de Francesc Cambó, 16 Address: Rambla de Prim 1 Address: Carrer Pere IV, 272-286 areas of urban growth. Contributed by: MI_MOA Contributed by: Jose_Garcia 58 A10 # 51 MI Tour Guide MI Tour Guide A10 # 51 59 (Barcelona, a case study the last plot of the Cerdà plan. Its main func- boomtown) tions, such as exhibition areas and a restau- In the next issue: restored the Foundation, which reopened in rant, are placed in the blue prismatic volume March 2010 with renewed exhibition spaces suspended above the ground, and an audi- that recu perate the industrial character of the torium is located in the basement. Next to building. The roof terrace is especially worth a this plot is Josep Lluís Mateo’s International Eurovision visit. Going down the Gràcia promenade we find Convention Centre (CCIB) (13), with its deli- the Palau de la Música Catalana, originally cate facade that changes along its length. After Turkey built in 1908, also by Domènech i Montaner. the Forum tour, you can picnic at Diagonal Eurovision presents an overview of the current state of In 1989, Oscar Tusquets and Carles Díaz cre- Mar Park (14). Designed by EMBT, this huge ated an extension and restoration of the former park comprises a series of paths and bridges architecture in a specific country. Turkey, a fast-growing audi torium, which received the UNESCO stamp for skating, walking and cycling, along with economic power positioned at the crossroads of Europe in 1997. A nice place to grab lunch is under small boats and water games. and Asia, is the focus in the upcoming issue. the shelter of a sophisticated roof by EMBT at In the afternoon, we head to the most re- Mercat de Santa Caterina (5), located just cently developed area in Barcelona, the 22@ three blocks from Barcelona’s Gothic cathedral. district. The city council promoted a full rede- The Catalan Enric Miralles, together with his velopment of this former industrial zone by partner, Benedetta Tagliabue, conceived this replacing the existing premises with business distinctive building’s design, one that goes service and light industries. Walking along the beyond the transformation of a neoclassical Avenguida Diagonal, we find the sophisticated market into high-quality architecture. It also skyscraper designed by Dominique Perrault contributes to rethinking urban renewal in the and AIA Salazar Navarro, ME Barcelona (15). surrounding streets, bringing better quality liv- The smaller, cubic building acts as a counter- ing conditions into what used to be one of the point behind the tower, which is a rectangular worst areas of the city, the Gothic Quarter. parallelepiped cut lengthwise in two, with one In the afternoon you could go by foot to an of the halves shifted skywards. This rupture of awesome cultural belt near La Rambla, which the perfect geometric block creates movement runs from Barcelona University, past Catalonia in form and volume that bestows an urban Library and Pompeu Fabra University. There sense upon this tower inserted in the horizontal you can stop in the lively Plaça dels Àngels, a city. Located just two blocks distant is cloud9’s GERMEN MURAT hub for skaters and urban artists alike. At the contemporary design, Media-Tic (16). The 3 VKV Cultural and Social Center in Golcuk, Kocaeli by TeCe Architects.