Yes…if you didn't know already we're reaching the middle of Barcelona Architecture Week.
Week? This year it actually runs for 10 days — from May 10th to May 20th.
It's an ambitious programme, with several and various activities, talks, debates and exhibitions — and a music concert or two.
One of the reasons I first visited Barcelona back in 1981, and one of the reasons I love living here, is the architecture. Barcelona is the only city in the world to have been awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects gold medal; the prize usually goes to individual architects or architectural practices. And, every single day it's easy to see why.
As well as hosting beautiful antique buildings and giving encouraging approval to daring new builds the city is also very adept at re-imagining and re-purposing buildings. There are hundreds of examples — textile mills which now serve as schools and cultural centres; former Modernista sweet shops now cocktail bars; Modernista bakers and pharmacies which now house IT companies; an Arab bath and beauty spa which was once an abattoir and meat warehouse…and so it goes.
Appropriately this year's event is headquartered in the recently decommissioned Modelo prison in Nova Esquerra d l'Eixample.
And, while the event is centred on the former city centre prison it is reaching out to every one of the city's 10 districts — with an impressive roster of tours, talks and exhibits.
All good stuff.
However, I've not yet found a reliable link, or downloadable PDF, with programme details in English so as to help guide you.
Here are a few links about this year's programme for you, make of them what you will:
As much as I'd like, unfortunately I won't be able to join you — I'm off to the UK on Thursday so I've had to squeeze five days appointments into the space of three — meaning I will have no meaningful time, let alone energy, for exploring local space. The space-time-energy dilemma or conundrum. Gets us all.
