Placa Paisos Catalans

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Location

(08014) The Placa Paisos Catalan, is a large plaza surrounded by modern buildings, and is one of Barcelona's busiest square where some of the city's most important streets and avenues meet. It is located between the old city (Ciutat Vella) and the 19th century Eixample district. It is conveniently located 15 minutes from Sants Central train station and it is a 15 minute drive from one the major air ports in Barcelona.

Site History (Designer)

After the medieval city walls were demolished in the 19th century, a significant reform of the city took place, under the guide of a number of notable urban planners. In 1859, Placa Paisos Catalan as part of pla Rovirain was scheduled for construction but no official permission from the government was given until the 1888 Universal Exposition. It was urbanized for the first time in 1902, with further reforms in 1929, on the occasion of the 1929 Universal Exposition, that also included the construction of a metro line and other plazas alike. Until the middle of the 19th century the Placa Poisos Catalan was a rural area just outside the city walls. In 1858 the central government in Madrid finally allowed the defensive walls to be demolished. It also approved construction outside the walls so a public competition was organized for the design of a new district. As for the designers, first place design award was awarded to Rovira i Trias, which consisted of plan with streets radiating from the historic Barri Gotic district. The central government however chose for a more modern design with a grid plan by Ildefons Cerdà. The central government prevailed and the new plan district was designed according to Cerdà's design. Barcelona's government however opposed what they perceived as a lack of relationship between the new and old districts.

Design & Program

Barcelona is mostly a city of exuberant art and architecture and highly influential with there visual pleasures,so much so that it is said that on a micro size, Barcelona and in particular Catalan area is a Miro sculpture "Sunset daily Date: 12/1/1987". The new plazas (or placas, as this Catalan-speaking city calls them) amuse and intrigue, so this speaks volumes that this space was built mostly as a transition space that is supposed to go easy on the eyes. It is interesting how the architect chose to use just steel and granite.. steel being the canopies in the plaza. how ever, after extensive research about the site, we found out that plaza was being used for recreational sports on the boarding, roller blading.

Relate to the Memorial Union We feel that this site relates to the remodeled back entrance to the memorial union, on the East side. This area is entirely hardscape, like the Plaza Paisos, and was a designed transitional space. Although it is not similar in size, the union has a small built structure that canapies a small area of the hardscape, without much green space. there are benches off the main paths of walking, as does the plaza, but the union seems to have more private area, protecting you around the sitting areas. The Plaza Paisos really does not have much protection from the elements, or an area that is more of a private getaway from the city noise.

Strengths/Weaknesses

Like in paragraphs ascending this, we discussed some of the great things about this space, it is a great transition space. It helps the passengers from the trains to take there time and take in all of barcelona's art, architecture and the people who belong in this specific social area. It's other great aspects are its ability to slow the busy town life and also provides a place for liesure, recreation and some cultural education for those who aren't from around the area. How ever, the space has several specs going against it. surrounded by very limited green space, the general neighborhood just needs some green space and the designers seemed to ignore the fact. Its also doesn't create a lot of shading for the potential users during sunny or rainy days, there fore making it a seasonal space.

Bibliography

http://www.pps.org/great_public_spaces/one?public_place_id=626#

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-6144489.html

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/es/station/Barcelona/pix.html