Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
site ofaspectacular firework,music andlaser showattheclose ofeach year'sMercè festival
in September.
Caixa Forum
Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia 6-8 • Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat, Sun & hols 10am-10pm • Free • 934 768
600,
fundacio.lacaixa.es
• Espanya
Caixa Forum
is a terrific arts and cultural centre set within the old
modernista
Casaramona
textile factory, originally built in 1911 by Josep Puig i Cadafalch. The subsequent renovation
andexpansionundertheauspicesoftheFundacióLaCaixahasproducedaremarkablebuild-
ing, entered beneath twin iron-and-glass canopies representing spreading trees. The exhibi-
tionhallswerefashionedfromtheformerfactorybuildings,whoseexternalstructurewasleft
untouched - girders, pillars, brickwork and crenellated walls appear at every turn. The un-
dulating roof (signposted “terrats”) offers unique views, while the high Casaramona tower,
etched in blue and yellow tiling, is as readily recognizable as the huge Miró starfish logos
emblazoned across the building.
A permanent exhibition covers the history and design of the building, while other galleries
are given over to the foundation's contemporary international
art collection
, which focuses
ontheperiodfromthe1980stothepresent-worksareshowninpartial rotation. Inaddition,
there's an excellent free programme of changing
exhibitions
across all aspects of the arts
- recent exhibitions have highlighted subjects as diverse as the influence of Japanese art in
Spain and the ground-breaking work of French film-maker George Méliès. There's also the
Mediateca multimedia space, plus an arts bookshop, children's activities and a 400-seat aud-
itorium for music, art and literary events. The
café
occupies a converted space within the old
factory walls, and serves breakfast and light meals.
Pavelló Mies van der Rohe
Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia 7, opposite Caixa Forum • Daily 10am-8pm • €5, under-16s free • Free tour in
English Sat 10am • 934 234 016,
miesbcn.com
• Espanya
The German contribution to the 1929 International Exhibition was a pavilion designed by
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and reconstructed in 1986 by Catalan architects. Used as a re-
ception room during the Exhibition, the
Pavelló Mies van der Rohe
is considered a major
example of modern rationalist architecture. The pavilion has a startlingly beautiful conjunc-
tion of hard straight lines with watery surfaces, its dark-green polished onyx alternating with
shiningglass.It'sopentovisitorsbutunlessthere'sanexhibitioninplace(afairlyregularoc-
currence), thereislittle toseeinside saveMiesvanderRohe'siconic tubularsteel
Barcelona
