Today we find ourselves on the last leg of a truly AMAZING tour! Weary & bleary eyed we left the creature comforts of Casa Camper…on one last adventure!
Weaving the back streets of Barcelona we found our way to Cadaval &Sola-Morales for an intimate and very enjoyable chat with Clara Solà-Morales, who kindly walked us through the design process behind the X-House and several beautiful ‘ephemera’ – temporary installations an exhibits that their practice uses to test their ideas an deep themselves ‘fresh’, a wonderfully inspiring way practice ethos. As with so many practices we have visited along the way iterative modelling having a major role in design evolution and resolution.
Still in the realm of Cadaval &Sola-Morales, Eduardo Cadaval treating us to a tour through the X-house…a great example of the potential that can be realised with the combination of passionate designers, fantastic site and an enthusiastic trusting client!
From being pent up in a cab to traversing the cobbled lane ways by pushbike with the rain falling lightly we made our way to EMBT, where the delightful Autro showed us the ropes! A self professed melting pot of ideas the practice occupies an amazing space from centuries past! With a scattering of the detailing that can be found throughout their work interlaced with original timber panels, Catalan detailing, exquisite models (pic3) and collages at every turn the office speaks greatly of quality of design it aspires to and achieves.
Ricardo Bofill occupy the most enthralling space – brought about via a rather clever ‘negotiation’ with the local government the practice and private residence inhabit the skeletal remnants of a former cement works….spiral stairs winding there way up through the derelict silos, as much vertical courtyard as transportation these wells link the various arms of the practice…the practice showcasing their ability to define amazing awe inspiring space in knowing exactly what elements of the former building to keep and those to strip away.
(Pic 4)
The chance to talk with the College of Architects of Catalonia provided an in-site into the workings of the profession in Barcelona. The final professional body we have had the chance to engage with on the tour across the three countries we have visited…Incredibly telling of the position our industry finds itself in, that the issues facing practices at home are just as prevalent abroad and are equally at the for-front of professional debate & discourse. A very interesting conversation!
Back on the bikes and off for a little down time meandering the back streets and sneaking in a few last sights (a really great way to see the city). Topping off an inspirational day and the official tour with one last meal with the team….paella & cava down near the waterfront, reminiscing about a mind blowing 11days – and that my friends is a wrap!
…adios
