Today was a beautiful day and finally warmed up. We have been a bit bundled the past week with scarves and coats against wind and gentle rain. As our evening was so late, we started late and met at the furnicular which is like a trolley attached to train tracks to take us uphill. It took us to the top of Montjuic ("Mount of the Jews") which is the highest point in Barcelona. This same place is the site of the 1992 Olympics. A typical quarter-long advanced assignment at Cal Poly would be to site and design the Olympic games: the arrangement of buildings, roads, parking, parks, plants, lighting, etc. into a logical, ecological and meaningful resolution. The area that seemed to wrap up the essence of Barcelona was on the main plaza from the Olympic Ring by the flame to the view of Barcelona below. Symbolic elements like the controlled use of water (since it is limited in the Mediterranean), olive trees in boxed planters laid out in groves, "Gaudi-mosaiced" base to the Calvatrava communications tower, vernacular use of stone (beige in color), and an architectural allusion to the Museum of Catalan Art were incredible.
We also visited the best designed botanical garden I have visited. Most are informative with plant names and typical information, but this was contemporary in design. Clearly a step forward as most are pretty boring to me unless they are historical.
We also walked down to the Catalan Art Museum which I originally thought was the Cathedral as it is so grand. A series of water features structure and focus on the museum. At the time of my photographs they were not on, but we saw them on the weekend and they were beautiful. One of my favorite beautiful buildings lies along this plaza: Mies van der Rohe's building for the 1929 Barcelona Exposition. I took copious pictures of this forward thinking, simple and elegant building. The marble walls connected at the veins in an incredibly difficult artisan way. How do you find marble from different sites in the quarry which match in veining?
We also walked down to the Catalan Art Museum which I originally thought was the Cathedral as it is so grand. A series of water features structure and focus on the museum. At the time of my photographs they were not on, but we saw them on the weekend and they were beautiful. One of my favorite beautiful buildings lies along this plaza: Mies van der Rohe's building for the 1929 Barcelona Exposition. I took copious pictures of this forward thinking, simple and elegant building. The marble walls connected at the veins in an incredibly difficult artisan way. How do you find marble from different sites in the quarry which match in veining?
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