Casa Batlo and La Pedrera by Gaudi were actually built as social housing. La Pedrera is still in use. It’s actually a misconception that utilitarian architecture should be ugly. It’s a Le Corbusier theory that unfortunately took roots in our ‘modern’ culture. There where other competing views on how to build the modern city but inexplicably his won.
It’s not cheaper to build ugly hospitals. The main hospital in Vienna was a staggering 4.5 billion. It’s so ugly! Its construction turned into a huge bribery scandal.
Needless to say, I love Art Nouveau and as I was standing on the rooftop of Casa Batlo looking around at the world we built for ourselves I wanted to weep. And Barcelona is a beautiful city. You should see where I grew up.
Lovely article and photography. Thanks for writing this! 💚
I think -for all the great interiors..the hospital does lack in human scale, so to say...what works amazing when it has to give a feeling of majesty, doesn't neccessarily work well in settings where people would maybe rather feel more ..like they're not in a church or a castle. Of course modern hospitals are not the greatest in creating such scale either, they are often just more utilitarian, and frankly, unwelcoming . But I might feel more prone to dying under such high ceilings...everything calls you "up! leave this place behind"))
Also, orange trees do make everything better....but people get sick just the same. I'm surrounded by orange trees I explained. I love them. I prefer to be surrounded by them. But do they speed healing? Eh. Not from what I noticed.
It is not well known that the Architect, Lluis Domenechi i Montaner, was also a very good project manager, who usually delivered on time and on budget. The best example is his commission for the World Fair in Barcelona. He devised a modular pavilion in Art Noveau style made of cast iron elements that where reusable. The pavilion was built fast and cheaply. A good part of the cost was recovered when the pavilion was disassembled.
The use of Art Noveau style in practical buildings was widespread during that period in Catalonia. Two examples that come to mind are the cooperative cellars in Pinell de Brai and the Colonia Güell. Countles factories were built in Art Noveau style. An example is the building that now hosts Caixa Forum in Barcelona.
Paramedic: « We got a 33 yo male with an acute acitrussinensisnosis. »
Dr X: « Quick! Bring him to the orangerie! »
🍊
Casa Batlo and La Pedrera by Gaudi were actually built as social housing. La Pedrera is still in use. It’s actually a misconception that utilitarian architecture should be ugly. It’s a Le Corbusier theory that unfortunately took roots in our ‘modern’ culture. There where other competing views on how to build the modern city but inexplicably his won.
It’s not cheaper to build ugly hospitals. The main hospital in Vienna was a staggering 4.5 billion. It’s so ugly! Its construction turned into a huge bribery scandal.
Needless to say, I love Art Nouveau and as I was standing on the rooftop of Casa Batlo looking around at the world we built for ourselves I wanted to weep. And Barcelona is a beautiful city. You should see where I grew up.
Lovely article and photography. Thanks for writing this! 💚
Great post, very interesting, thank you!
I think -for all the great interiors..the hospital does lack in human scale, so to say...what works amazing when it has to give a feeling of majesty, doesn't neccessarily work well in settings where people would maybe rather feel more ..like they're not in a church or a castle. Of course modern hospitals are not the greatest in creating such scale either, they are often just more utilitarian, and frankly, unwelcoming . But I might feel more prone to dying under such high ceilings...everything calls you "up! leave this place behind"))
Also, orange trees do make everything better....but people get sick just the same. I'm surrounded by orange trees I explained. I love them. I prefer to be surrounded by them. But do they speed healing? Eh. Not from what I noticed.
Again, thank you-beautiful post!!
https://etiennefd.substack.com/i/143202563/if-it-were-in-madrid-itd-be-the-best-thing-to-see-in-the-city
Yes, it's not the same, but in Madrid we've a nice hospital from that epoch.
Maybe worth it to visit the next time in Madrid.
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_de_Maudes
It is not well known that the Architect, Lluis Domenechi i Montaner, was also a very good project manager, who usually delivered on time and on budget. The best example is his commission for the World Fair in Barcelona. He devised a modular pavilion in Art Noveau style made of cast iron elements that where reusable. The pavilion was built fast and cheaply. A good part of the cost was recovered when the pavilion was disassembled.
The use of Art Noveau style in practical buildings was widespread during that period in Catalonia. Two examples that come to mind are the cooperative cellars in Pinell de Brai and the Colonia Güell. Countles factories were built in Art Noveau style. An example is the building that now hosts Caixa Forum in Barcelona.