Barceloneta & the Waterfront - Barcelona - page 220

is the eerily blue, triangular 2001: A Space Odyssey -style Edifici Fòrum building by Swiss
architects Herzog & de Meuron.
The facades look like sheer cliff faces, with angular crags cut into them as if by divine
laser. Grand strips of mirror create fragmented reflections of the sky.
Next door, Josep Lluís Mateo's high-tech Centre de Convencions Internacional de
Barcelona (CCIB) is a massive work in steel with intriguing contours.
A 300m stroll east from the Edifici Fòrum is the Zona de Banys , with kayaks and bikes
available for rent, the option to learn diving, and other activities. This tranquil seawater
swimming area was won from the sea by the creation of massive cement-block dykes. At its
northern end, like a great rectangular sunflower, an enormous photovoltaic panel turns its
face up to the sun to power the area with solar energy. Along with another set of solar panels
in the form of porticoes, it generates enough electricity for 1000 households. Just behind it
spreads Port Fòrum , Barcelona's third marina. The area is unified by an undulating
esplanade and walkways (with wheelchair access) that are perfect for walking, wheelchair
access, bikes and skateboards.
In summer a weekend amusement park sets up with all the usual suspects: rides, shoot-
ing galleries, snack stands, inflatable castles and dodgem cars.
The Parc de Diagonal Mar , designed by Enric Miralles, contains pools, fountains, a di-
dactic botanical walk (with more than 30 species of trees and other plants) and modern
sculptures.

MUSEUM

MUSEU BLAU
(Blue Museum; MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 93 256 60 02; www.museublau.bcn.cat ; Parc del Fòrum;
adult/child €6/free; 10am-7pm Tue-Sat, to 8pm Sun; El Maresme Fòrum)
Set inside the futuristic Edifici Fòrum, the Museu Blau takes visitors on a journey all across
the natural world. Multimedia and interactive exhibits explore topics like the history of
evolution, the earth's formation and the great scientists who have helped shaped human
knowledge. There are also specimens from the animal, plant and mineral kingdoms - plus
dinosaur skeletons - all rather dramatically set amid the sprawling 9000 sq metres of exhibi-
tion space.
Science geeks of all ages will enjoy spending a few hours here.