Barcelona; Streetlife, Gaudi and Art Noveau

Last Christmas and New Year 2007 I went to Barcelona, one of the worlds coolest and prettiest cities by my opinion. And also great people that lives there! No hay problema, nunca!
The playfulness of the city is also reflected in the experimental architecture made by Gaudi. His work is found all around in Barcelona, from parks to the great cathedral "Sagrada Familia".
I didn't have a camera when I went to Barcelona, so most of the pictures in this post is from a tourist-leaflet about Gaudi's work, and some pictures from a disposable camera I ran around with, that's why they're a bit blurry...


The use of colorful tiles and with curves and lines inspired by nature, Gaudi's work is one of a kind. Cities are usually boring and depressing, but by making them more alive and "nature-like" I belive people would enjoy living there even more!

Chimneys!


Sagrada Familia, not yet finished

Casa Battló, like made out of candy

But Gaudi is of course not the ONLY big thing about Barcelona. It is a centre for street art and fashion like only the catalan can do it. People are relaxed and the vibes are definitively different from posh Madrid, or the Celtic North-West.
Under is a music video made of Manu Chao, La Rumba de Barcelona, many of the shots taken from La Rambla, the main walking street in the City, loaded with tourists, salsemen and entertainers all year around.

While in Barcelona i bought a book called "Art Noveau, a Study of Europe and America's boldest and most fashionable style" by Stephen Escritt.
I have always been a fan of Art Noveau, even though with my Scandinavian genes I should find it a bit fussy but rather opposite, it's not really maximalism, but definetively not minimalism either. It's the natural curves and playfullness of motives and colors and the so direct inspiration from nature that fascinates me.


The book is given out by the publisher Phaidon, which specializes in books about art, photography, design architecture etc.

Painting by Murcha, famous art noveau artist.

The dragonfly is a favourite motive in Art Noveau