What people are to New York City, the Berlin Wall to Berlin, or the Queen to London, architecture is to Barcelona. This city was made to be a playground for architects, designers and innovators. Certainly, it is most well known for the imprint Gaudi left here, to stay forever with the visitors and those living in Barcelona. However, there are instances when people visit for other things except Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia.
Some praise the city for its detailed planning, the so-called “chamfered corner” designs, created by Cerdà. As you walk around the city, you will notice that every building ends with a flat corner that enables bigger, wider crossroads. Because of this feature, each intersection seems like a big town square. Moreover, the streets are wide and open, too. This certainly makes for a lovely, relaxing strolling through Barcelona.
Furthermore, the city has started to embrace modern and contemporary architecture buildings, as well. Even though they are present, they do not occupy the city centre itself. This type of planning has been set up so that the tall skyscrapers do not disturb the mid-rise structures in the heart of the city. Never mind the small number of these contemporary giants, they are present and bring a breath of fresh air to the centuries old city. With their bold, eccentric, sharp and modern designs, these pieces of architecture stand on their own as strong and independent items.
Although the architecture of Barcelona might be variable and quirky, it still stands as the Mecca for architects and lovers of architecture. Without a doubt, the numerous buildings are what makes this city unique, and without them, it wouldn’t be the same.
With that in mind, here are some contemporary style jewels that would captivate you and leave you in awe.
Diagonal ZeroZero
This futuristic structure, which serves as the headquarters of the Telefonica Group, stands out for several reasons. The first one is the design of the building. Edgy, sharp, clean – every trait makes it pop out from the surrounding bleak area. Moreover, the polished white colour contributes to this as well. Another stand-out point is the location and position of the Diagonal ZeroZero.
The skyscraper was built at the beginning of one of Barcelona’s biggest and broadest avenues named Avinguda Diagonal, hence the name of the building. Also, because of its location, it has a diamond shape, which cuts through the skyline of the city. Because of its size, position and look, the building is visible from both the city and the coast.
Furthermore, some parts of its interior are open to the public, like the atrium on the ground floor. Except the Telefonica headquarters, there are more open-space offices, an auditorium that occupies two floors, and another atrium at the top of the buildings that face the coast. Without a doubt, the Diagonal ZeroZero offers a fresh touch to the Barcelona skyline and architecture.
Media-TIC
District 22 is the innovative, tech-savvy part of Barcelona. It started as a project for renovating and rejuvenating the old Poble Nou neighbourhood in order to make it economic and energy-efficient. Although it started as a project, an idea, it has blossomed into a powerhouse where numerous companies, start-ups and universities reside.
Because of its love toward technology, super modern, contemporary buildings are nothing new here. One such structure is the Media-TIC building, the ultimate fruit of green architecture. Everything here, from the materials to the paint, is green.
Furthermore, its exterior surface is quite peculiar, with each wall being different. For instance, the cushion-like south façade has heat sensors installed, which makes for a really smart solution. Depending on the exterior conditions, the façade cushions change. So, during winter, they open up and let the light in, while during the summer season they close to create a shade. This is all possible due to Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a fluorine-based plastic out of which the exterior cladding is made of.
Another interesting fact about this building is that it was built top to bottom, unlike the usual way of starting on the ground. Obviously, it is a breathtaking feat of architecture, which uses technology as a material and as a tool for garnering energy.
The Forum Building a.k.a. Museu Blau de les Ciències Naturals
Situated next to the Diagonal ZeroZero, this midnight-blue triangle of a building has garnered a lot of attention, mostly by creating controversy during its construction. The negative talk started because the creation cost a lot of money; billions, to be exact. But in the end, the risk paid off, as the city got a new fantastic building, and the community has a new gallery space and an auditorium with a capacity for over 3000 people.
The Forum Building was built in a highly interesting way. Its structure mixes two opposites. The first one are the rugged, blue walls, which look significantly different from the rest of Barcelona’s architecture. The second is the fact that this heavy building seems to float in the air, thanks to the fact that it lies on thick columns, which support its weight. The massiveness is also reduced with the jagged mirrors found on the sides and the bottom of the structure.
In the end, this daring architecture has pushed the naysayers and protestors into actually liking and admiring the building. Nowadays, it serves as a great addition to the surrounding plaza, and carries its own personality with pride.
Torre Mare Nostrum
The makers of this building were inspired by the wind and the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Because of this influence, the building looks how it looks. It is split into three parts that are all interconnected to make one huge structure. However, as you look at it from different sides and angles, you might think it’s a completely new building each time. The reasons for this are the various shapes and sizes of all three parts.
Moreover, the two outer buildings have clearly defined shapes with sharp edges. Meanwhile, the middle part is the smallest in height and width, and has an irregular shape. Nevertheless, it is the most interesting sight, too.
Thanks to the glass-made external surface, the whole building looks like it absorbs the sea and the sky. Because of the reflections, it appears to be liquid, even though it is made of hard materials. This feature makes it a great addition to the Barcelona skyline, not straying far from the already present mix of old and modern architecture.
Both the Gaudi-made, and this contemporary architecture make for a fascinating appearance of this Catalonian city. Because of it, the city is quite inviting to both adventurists and architecture lovers, so it’s no wonder that it has so many tourists each year, even though the surrounding areas are also worth the visit.