Barcelona Modern Architecture/ Exterior Skins

 (Illa de la Llum)

The area of 22@ in Barcelona, Spain expresses a wide range of modern architecture.  Two of the buildings Illa de la Llum ( Lluis collet & Ignacio: architect) and ME Barcelona Hotel (Dominique Perrault: architect) have very interesting exterior skins that express qualities of transparency and translucency.

The first building Illa de la Llum located along the sea has a very particular system that generates its exterior skin.   Moveable screens are placed over the entire facade of the building creating a very interesting checker board looking effect.  The screens provide a translucency to the building by partially shading the building from the sun but not entirely blocking the view to the outside.  These screens create a wall for the exterior terraces/ balconies of the apartment suites.  This wall can either slide open to allow for views of the ocean or slid closed to provide shade and protection from the hot sun.  The movements of the screens are depicted by the occupants of the apartments themselves, so based on particular preferences the screens movements will change throughout the building creating a constantly changing facade.  The facade is never completely opened or closed created very opaque patches as well as very translucent open patches within the facade.  This always for viewers to see into or out of the building and get a sense of the spaces created within.  The facade is a very dynamic one because of its movement as well as the position of the building.  Its positioned so every apartment unit gets a view of the city as well as the sea.  If viewed from afar or right up to the very details this building is very translucent because if the screens are completely open you can see straight through the building.  Even in the details you can still see the interior of the building through the slits in the screen so the building is never entirely closed off to the exterior. In fact instead of closing it off it takes advantage of its surroundings and compliments them by creating excellent shaded views.

 ME Barcelona Hotel

The second building ME Barcelona Hotel located between the Glories Plaza and the Forum Area has a very different approach to its facade. The exterior is not a screen but a sheet of glass that covers the entire facade.  The hotel is very translucent due to the glass material you can see into the building close up but not entirely in because of glazing added to create privacy and shading protection.  The building itself because of the color blends in almost to the sky and the sea because of its bluish green color creating a sense of translucency within the landscape/ sky line.  Because of its shape/ height is creates a very dynamic landmark for the area.  It looks as if its reaching for the heavens due to its height and exaggerated setbacks.  While the glass creates a transparency and allows for views from the interior, the exterior skin due to the glazing is not very transparent.  The exterior skin creates more of a mirror effect reflecting the city scape and creating a back drop for the city.  This building takes advantage of the views of the city/ sea with its height as well as its shape it provides views from every side as well as giving back to its surroundings with a mirrored back drop. 

San Antoni Library

The San Antoni Library is a very modern design.  It is a rectangular building that uses a void in the building as a passageway to the exterior courtyard.  In addition its facade is a very dark (black) reflective skin with different screen shading devices.  This is a very sophisticated, decorative, and sustainable design technique that helps unify the exterior elements and shade the outside of the building.  The black reflective skin also helps to unify the different parts of the building because the building is made up of several rectangular volumes at varying heights.  Each space inside the building has a view to the exterior courtyard or the street.  The drawing above helps to show spacial relationships between the courtyard and the interior spaces of the building.  The drawing also helps to show the atmosphere of the exterior courtyard as well as show the shape of the library.  In the drawing you can also get a sense of the large contrast between the building itself and the surroundings.  However a photograph would much better show the reflective materials of the buildings facade.  Photographs also help capture more of reality unless the drawing is a high quality rendering.  Drawings help show some of the aspects of a space, such as the San Antoni Library, however they often lack a sense of realism and the actual mood of a space, which a photograph or just first hand experience can provide. (For example, when this was sketched is was done in the rain, however the drawing doesn't reflect this but the photograph does.)  This drawing is effect however in establishing spacial and scale relationships of this library and its courtyard.  

Ciutadella park and Montjuic Botanical gardens

The Ciutadella and the botanical gardens on Montjuic are similar yet very different.  They are both large in scale however the layout and elevation of each is very different.  Montjuic's botanical gardens while it is generated through a system of geometric cuts into the mountain that develop into paths, there is not direct route to take.  The gardens are set up in sections based on regions in the world containing exotic vegetation.  You merely wander through the systems of paths whichever way you wish and change elevation quite frequently.  This type of garden while a little picturesque looking also resembles the design of a French garden.  French gardens are known for taking control of the landscape, having clear definition and making severe geometric cuts in their gardens. Montjuic's vegation also varies based on different regions, it is designed almost as a series of different sets.  Also because of the elevation, the city of Barcelona provides a backdrop to the gardens on Montjuic, so as you walk down the path you see different views of the city below.  Unlike Montjuic's botanical gardens, Ciutadella park has two clear entrances and a clear defined more rounded path around the park rather than Montjuic's very geometric angular path.  The Ciutadella is also designed in the city itself and has a very flat terrain.  It is more of a picturesque garden and contains other elements besides just vegetation such as water features, sports facilities, museums, etc.    It is also a much more active space with so many activities to offer.  Montjuic's botanical gardens are much more of a exotic plant museum, and simple for a walk through rather than an opportunity to become a very active area. More people visit the Ciutadella, possibly due to its location.Ciutadella is located near the gothic quarter/ beach.  Montjuic's botanical gardens require a good walk or bus up the mountain.  In conclusion, both the Ciutadella and the botanical gardens are beautiful designs of landscape and create these beautiful breaks in the city's grid/ landscape.

Southern Spain vs. Barcelona

Although Madrid and Sevilla's food is better Barcelona is by far my favorite city.  I love how the city is tucked between the mountains and the sea and has so much to offer.  Barcelona has a two beautiful back drops and so much to do. Montjuic is a beautiful mountain next to the sea with a beautiful castle as well as a great view of the Mediterranean.  Barcelona has the old and the new, you can get lost in gothic quarter and see the old roman city or you can venture into the Eixample and see the newer parts of town.  You can even go visit the old neighborhoods such a Gracia which are soo full of life and great food.  The architecture in each of the areas changes a little but all seems to connect together as well.  Barcelona has a lot of passion for soccer that is very exciting to watch as well as they have great entertainment and night life.  Barcelona is relaxing and a great time.  Madrid is more like a modern busy city.  It resembles closer to New York city in my eyes.  Everyone moved faster, it seemed busier the buildings had a more corporate look to them in some areas but it also has some of the old and the new.  The buildings were slightly taller and there was no water or mountains. Madrid has more government buildings and less people are out at night,  Barcelona has a much crazier night life.  The sky was gray some days, but the parks were beautiful and the tapas was extremely delicious.  Sevilla was also very pretty it had a more old traditional much more cultural feel, with the flamenco dancers dancing in the streets, the bull ring is still open and used unlike other parts of Spain.  Also in the south there are orange trees everywhere.  The cathedral was very beautiful and the river as well as the waterfront.  But it looked more like tourist town  than a place I would actually want to live.  Sevilla has more smaller shops and smaller roads.  It was more on a town/ residential scale rather than a large city.