More Modernisme Walk January 24, 2013

A group of ladies from the International Women's Club of Barcelona set out on a chilly but very sunny late morning to explore some of the perhaps lesser known Modernist buildings in the city along Avinguda Diagonal. As usual, we followed our trusty expert, Liz, and oohed and aahed at the amazing architecture for which Barcelona is so famous.

We started at Casa Asia, currently a business research and cultural centre, originally the Palau del Baró Quadras. It was designed by the architect Puig i Cadafalch and built between 1902-06 for the Baron Quadras. The main façade sports a soaring, glassed-in gallery. Check out the gargoyles and reliefs: can you find the toothy fish or the knight wielding a sword?

The back:



The front:





Down the street is the Casa Comalat, built in 1911 by Salvador Valeri. Note the Gaudi influence on the main façade, complete with wavy roof and bulging balconies.













At #420 Diagonal, another masterpiece by Puig i Cadafalch stands proudly on its own, the only fully detached building in all of L'Eixample. The Casa Terrades, commonly known as the Casa de les Punxes (House of the Spikes), was built between 1903 and 1905 as an apartment block for the Terrades family. It looks rather like a fairy-tale castle, with a Church-like feel to it!








An entrance into the Casa Terrades:




Another entrance:
















Yet another building by Puig i Cadafalch is found just off the Diagonal along the Passeig de Sant Joan at #108. The Casa Macaya now belongs to La Caixa bank and is used for temporary exhibitions open to the public. Note the pseudo-Gothic decoration which is characteristic of this architect's style.




From here we headed diagonally towards the famous La Sagrada Familia Church, still under construction, but with less of a queue to enter at this time of year!




A lovely stroll along the popular Avinguda de Gaudí brought us to the huge campus of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau, which was started by the architect Domènech i Montaner in 1905 and finished by his son in 1930. He also designed the beautiful Palau de la Música Catalana. Together the two buildings comprise a joint World Heritage site and are beautiful to behold.




Most of the hospital facilities have been moved to more modern (and rather boring) facilities on the premises. The site is now busy with major renovations which have been ongoing for some time. Part of the site will become a museum dedicated to Muntaner, medicine and the 600-year history of the hospital, first established in the early 15th century in El Raval. There are some 16 pavillions, mostly facing south and connected by underground tunnels. The hospital was designed to create a unique environment in which to cheer up patients with lavish gardens and beautiful decorations, including murals, mosaics, stained glass and sculptures, recalling the history of Catalunya. It was interesting to note that the site was planned around two avenues running at a 45 degree angle to the definitive symmetrical grid of the Eixample streets.
















And then it was off to lunch at a popular restaurant in front of the Hospital's main gate...a lovely end to a most enjoyable daytrip! Thanks, Liz!

Hasta luego...

Location:Eixample area of Barcelona