Contemporary Architecture: Top 5 Buildings in Barcelona
As the cradle of Modernism in its architectural aspect, Barcelona has managed to reinvent itself as a global architectural powerhouse, embracing different styles and opening up to the prevailing new trends. Evidence of this can be seen in various iconic buildings constructed throughout the city that have become true benchmarks of contemporary architecture that emerged during the second half of the 20th century. Today we review some of these.
Mies Van der Rohe Pavilion
Although the original construction dates back to 1929, it still remains a source of inspiration and a case study at universities. The site was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich as the headquarters for the German Pavilion for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. Once the Exposition was closed, the pavilion was dismantled in 1930. However, the simplicity of its forms and its materials (glass, steel, and marble) turned it into a benchmark of 20th-century architecture, as well as a key work in Van der Rohe's career.
This is why in 1980 Oriol Bohigas initiated its reconstruction from the Barcelona City Council. Thus, the replica was commissioned to Ignasi de Solà-Morales, Cristian Cirici, and Fernando Ramos, who were responsible for the research, design, and direction of the Pavilion's reconstruction. The project started in 1983 and the building was inaugurated in 1986, exactly at the location of the original building. Just as with the original, the new enclosure was constructed with steel, glass, and the same four types of marble that van der Rohe had used decades earlier.
Within the enclosure, it is worth highlighting “Dawn,” the sculpture in the courtyard, strategically placed in the pond to be reflected in the water, marble, and glass, creating a strong contrast between its curvilinear forms and the rectilinear geometry of the building.
The Auditorium
Obra del arquitecto español Rafael Moneo, que fue designado en 1996 como premio Pritzker de arquitectura, siendo el primer español en lograr el ansiado galardón. L’Auditori fue la segunda construcción de Moneo en nuestra ciudad. La primera fue el centro comercial L’illa Diagonal, pionero de las grandes superficies comerciales de Barcelona. Tras el éxito que supuso esta edificación, Moneo recibió el encargo de diseñar un auditorio que pudiese albergar recitales de música en todas sus disciplinas. Así, diseñó un moderno recinto de 42.000m2situado en la confluencia de las tres principales arterias de Barcelona: la Gran Vía, La Diagonal y la Meridiana. La sobria modernidad exterior esconde un excelso recinto para el disfrute de la música en el que se distribuyen cuatro salas que pueden acoger, en conjunto a más de 3.000 personas. De la construcción destaca también el atrio central, en el que podemos ver una monumental linterna cúbica de vidrio en forma de impluvio.
Mare Nostrum Tower
Although its official name is the Mare Nostrum tower, the building is commonly known as the Gas Natural building, for being the headquarters of this energy company, which called for an architectural competition to return to its origins, the Barceloneta neighborhood, where 170 years ago the country's first gas factory was located. The winner of the competition was the studio of Enric Miralles, who designed a 22-story tower, 86 meters high, that would enrich the skyline without neglecting the small dimensions of the buildings that make up the seaside neighborhood. Thanks to its great height, the building has been incorporated into the changing skyline of Barcelona.
Built at different scales, the property consists of three buildings assembled together and covered by a glass facade, among which an office tower stands out. The entire complex is surrounded by a landscaped area that connects with the adjacent Barceloneta park. In addition to its asymmetrical shape, one of the major innovations of its construction was the energy efficiency, achieved through a curtain wall that makes up the facade in each of the units, which achieve a high level of insulation and generate, for the citizens who see the building from the outside, a mirror effect, reflecting the environment in which it is located.
Palau Sant Jordi
A pinnacle of the Olympic legacy left by the Barcelona '92 celebrations. This building was constructed between 1983 and 1990 and was part of the so-called Olympic ring, along with the Olympic Stadium and the esplanade. Its construction was so massive that it cost a whopping 54 million euros at the time. The design was led by the Japanese Arota Isozaki. We will always remember the raising of the famous roof, which was built on the ground and lifted to its current position over 10 days by 12 hydraulic jacks. With a capacity of up to 18,000 spectators, it hosted the rhythmic gymnastics and handball competitions during the Olympic Games. Almost 30 years after its inauguration, the venue remains a benchmark of contemporary architecture in our country and has managed to stay active and fully equipped for all kinds of events, such as concerts and sports competitions of all kinds, including the Davis Cup finals, which transformed the venue into a tennis court, or the 2013 World Swimming Championships, when an Olympic pool was built in a venue where anything is possible.
Encants Market
Uno de los mercados en activo más antiguos de Europa, con casi ocho siglos de historia. Durante ese tiempo un carácter itinerante, ya que se ha ubicado en diferentes zonas de Barcelona hasta que en 1928 fue trasladado a la plaza de les Glòries, donde estuvo hasta 2014, cuando se trasladó a un nuevo espacio cubierto en la esquina de la avenida Meridiana con Glòries. La reforma del mercado se realizó con el objetivo de mantener el carácter abierto que poseía en antiguo espacio al aire libre. Por eso se diseñó una cubierta repleta de espejos que crean la sensación de que sigue siendo un mercadillo al aire libre. Desde el principio el proyecto sufrió un fuerte condicionante, como fue limitar a 8.000 m2 un área comercial que ocupaba más del doble de espacio. Otra premisa que hubo que tener en cuenta durante su diseño fue evitar la proliferación de plantas, para huir del modelo imperante en los centros comerciales. No. Els Ecants no podía ser un nuevo centro comercial. Por eso se proyectó un espacio comercial que genera una experiencia similar a la que podemos sentir por cualquier calle peatonal. Un caos y desorden controlado que ha sabido perpetuar y mantener el espíritu del viejo mercadillo.
These are some of the most notable buildings that contemporary architecture has contributed to Barcelona. But there are more, many more: the Santa Caterina market, the Agbar tower, the MACBA... places to which we have already dedicated some articles on our blog, demonstrating that Barcelona is an architecturally vibrant city beyond its modernist legacy.
