Designer destination: A saulte to Gaudi in Barcelona

... but let's not overlook the artistic genius of Van der Rohe among the many others that make this city a truly designer destination
The Pavilion designed by Van Der Rohe
Sky Moore-Clube
Linda Taylor23 September 2015

Barcelona, one of the design capitals of the world, truly satisfies my hunger for the creative. From Gaudì to Mies van der Rohe and from boutique art galleries to the graffiti adorning the metal shutters of Catalan shop-fronts, the range of artistic offerings is impressive.

Begin a design tour of this stylish city with a nod to Gaudì and his futuristic and fluid creations, including La Sagrada Familia and Casa Ballto. Then, why not break the typical touristic rhythm and visit La Pedrera. A hidden beauty that is totally underestimated, La Pedrera is one of Gaudì’s youngest masterpieces and contains a façade embellished with hand-crafted iron balconies. His exquisite manipulation of metal is hardly a surprise (it is a family trait) but its culmination here is more raw and organic. Casa Vicens is another rarely visited Gaudi house and is currently up for sale (casavicens.es). Located in the Gracia district and en route to Parc Guell, it is an important first work.

La Pedrera in Barcelona Sky Moore-Clube
Sky Moore-Clube

Museu del Disseny (the design museum) is a well-crafted oasis of graphic, fashion, interior and nano-technology design. For €5, you can start at the top of the building and work your way down through isolated rooms filled with Barcelona’s prized pieces. The top room offers a trip down graphic-design-memory-lane with astounding images from André Ricard, Òscar Tusquets and El Último Grito to name a few. As you travel further down the building, enjoying beautiful views of the neighbouring – and recently relocated – Flea Market, you can wander through a lifetime of fashion and precious antiques ranging from 16th-century cabinets to plaques and cantors by Miro and Picasso. The museum is centrally located at Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes.

Just a stone’s throw from Catalunya metro station lies the Pavilion, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The opportunity to visit a building, albeit a rebuild, designed by one of the veterans of minimalism in a city oozing style is a great honour – and presents a thrilling opportunity for the architecture junkie. Built from glass, steel and different kinds of marble, the clean lines, fluid colours and materials, as well as the shaping of the building intensify the effort put into the space. The overall effect is one that is strangely welcoming while being severely minimalist. Conceived to accommodate an official reception presided over by King Alfonso XIII of Spain along with the German authorities, Van der Rohe designed the pavillion for the 1929 Barcelona Exhibition.

Sky Moore-Clube

No visit to this city would be complete without a trip round Antonio Gaudì Parc Güell where a mesmerising Gaudí dragon fountain stands at the entrance. The park was commissoned by Eusebi Güell, who wanted to create a smart space for Barcelona aristocracy. It contains amazing stone structures, stunning tiling and fascinating buildings. Entrance to most of the attraction is free but the ‘Monument’ section is paid for and should be booked ahead.

WHERE TO STAY AND WHAT TO EAT

On a budget

There are stacks of rooms available via Airbnb (airbnb.co.uk) in Gracia, an up-and-coming boho district which is central and affordable. Sundowners at one of the many bars that line Plaza del Sol is a must – there is no better plaza for people watching. For the best tapas in town, wander southwards and cross Avenue Diagonal. Cerveceria Catalana, on Carrer Mallorca, is hugely popular with locals and tourists. You can’t book ahead so be prepared to queue, maybe for an hour depending on the time you arrive. Grab a beer and mingle with the crowd on the pavement outside. It’s seriously worth the wait.

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Feeling rich

Check in to the Hotel Des Arts, a luxury seafront hotel. An overnight stay will cost from £309 for as double room. Swing by the bar and soak up the ambience with a large gin and tonic. (hoteldesartsbarcelona.com)

Spoonik chefs Jon Giraldo and Jaime Lieberman receive you – via a haunting courtyard – into their house (formerly the residence of a former prime minister’s mistress), their dining room and their kitchen... Their food, with a slight south American twist, combines sophisticated tastes with extraordinary colours, all cooked at low temperatures: it’s a science meets art experiment, which succeeds. The menu usually includes eight courses, each served with its own libation, and the backdrop is more art-gallery than restaurant, with stunning abstract sculptures enhancing the space. The night I attended my meal was accompanied by a performance from a top opera singer. Reservations are strictly by appointment (via the website, and you need to be invited) and the waiting list is very long. Trust me, this is one gastronomic experience you will not want to miss. (spoonik.es)

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