Barcelona - One

Sorry for the radio silence. We rented an apartment in Barcelona that was supposed to have internet but in spite of much effort by the landlord we've not been able to connect to it. We left for Barcelona on Monday morning and got there in the late afternoon. Our first day of visiting was devoted to seeing architecture, in specific the school known as Modernisme and that of its prime master worker Antoni Gaudi.

We think of Paris as a great city of architecture and it is but Barcelona is also an incredible place. Not to bore you with a detailed discussion of Gaudi but his style, thought process and accomplishments were incredible including the use of broken tile as an ornament on buildings to create tableaus of color which were also practical as they were water proof - innovations in structural design which created flowing movement, always providing access to light and air, etc.

Here are just a few shots that give a sample. Hopefully Wife will get her much more full collection on Flickr and I can put a link in for those who have more interest.

Park Guelli

This was originally designed to be an exclusive housing developement with the shots below from what were to be the entrance and public areas. It ultimately became a public park owned by the city.

Entrance Way

Staircase up to the Market Place

Above the Market Place

Next we went to La Perdrera, a building that was designed as an apartment complex. It is still in use today though they have turned some areas into a museum.

Through the entrance way to the inner open core of the building so that all rooms had access to light and air

Another part of the inner court yeard

The roof is not only fanciful but practical - a park for the residents. All these things that look like sculptures are actually chiminey covers and exhaust covers.

Wife taking time out from her photographing to be my model

This is actually another building by Gaudi just down the street where he modified and existing building

La Sagrada Familia - One of the most incredible buildings of the modern period. A cathdedral started by Gaudi at the turn of the 20th century it is still under construction. These pictures hardly do justice to the scope of the work or its innovativeness.