Santa Caterina Market Archives - Architecture Walks and Tours in Barcelona

Barcelona & Gothic to Modern

Posted on April 17, 2024 by cm

Barcelona & Gothic to Modern, see Barcelona through the eyes of Enric Miralles

Join us as we explore the ideas and mindset of Enric Miralles, a genius in our lifetime. With Benedetta Tagliabue, he designed one of the most brilliant works of architecture in this city: the refurbishing of Santa Caterina Market.

With the aim of truly enjoying Enric Miralles’s work, we propose a journey of initiation that will attempt to be loyal to the architect’s words: “The architecture that interests me is capable of avoiding demagoguery and cannot hide the complex reality it comes from.”

This architecture tour walks through history, politics, the cultural imagination and the architecture of Barcelona’s Gothic and La Ribera Quarters.

We begin the journey in Roman Barcelona, then travel to the Carolingian era, the post-Franco era, Olympic Barcelona and, finally, the era that created el forat de la vergonya (the hole of shame). The walk ends in the market, where we will do some fieldwork to check Miralles’ methods, along with some of the processes that formed part of his modus operandi.

More Info:

* With every BARCELONA & GOTHIC TO MODERN booking you win a 10% discount voucher to be use in any other Walk!*

– MEETING POINT at the base of the ramp between the two Roman Towers to the right of the Cathedral. Link to Google Maps
– We offer Regular Tours every Thursday starting at 10:30 am. Booking in advance is required to attend to these Walks.
– The walk is for a small group of travelers. However, if you prefer a 100% private tour, please book it through BOOK NOW!.
– Maximum 20 people per Group tour.
– Kids under 12 can come along for free.
– The entire walk is wheelchair accessible.
– Languages: English (Spanish and Catalan are available in Private tour).
– Whatever happens, the walk will not be canceled, even if it’s raining or snowing! The weather in Barcelona is usually very nice, but we recommend you bring along suitable protective gear in case we have some inclement weather during the walk.

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Gothic to Modern walking tour

Posted on September 20, 2022September 20, 2022 by cm

Today we want to talk about our Barcelona & Gothic to Modern walking tour, the perfect way to discover Barcelona through the eyes of Enric Miralles.

This architecture tour walks through history, politics, the cultural imagination and the architecture of Barcelona’s Gothic and La Ribera Quarters.

We begin the journey in Roman Barcelona, then travel to the Carolingian era, the post-Franco era, Olympic Barcelona and, finally, the era that created el forat de la vergonya (the hole of shame). The walk ends in the market, where we will do some fieldwork to check Miralles’ methods, along with some of the processes that formed part of his modus operandi.

We remind you our 5 regular tours:

BARCELONA & THE FUTURE walk through the smart-city looking for our Future and discover with us the new Superblock at Poblenou.

BARCELONA & GOTHIC TO MODERN see Barcelona through the eyes of Enric Miralles.

BARCELONA & GAUDI a great start to discover the genius of Gaudí.

BARCELONA & THE URBANISM travel with us to the origins of the modern Barcelona.

BARCELONA & THE SEA discover Barcelona through its architecture.

In addition we have other 5 special tours:

BCN & LANDSCAPE coach tour of the largest urban parks in Barcelona.

BCN & MODERNISME 4-5 h expedition, during this tour we will see all the structures of the BARCELONA & GAUDI plus the area of the 1888 exhibition.

BCN & BARCELONA 1929 a tour discovering the projects that were made for the transformation of Barcelona on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of 1929.

BCN & SAGRADA FAMILIA. On this special four-hour tour, you will enjoy two of the most emblematic and most visited monuments in Barcelona led by an official tour guide that specializes in “Modernismo”.

BAW & RCR a full day coach excursion to see the most emblematic works of the RCR studio, awarded with the Pritzker of Architecture 2017.

Each route is driven by a set of themes and concepts that decode the city whilst stimulating new ways of thinking about and seeing Barcelona. Come and walk with us and live a fantastic experience!!!

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Santa Caterina Market

Posted on March 25, 2020 by cm

On our tour BARCELONA & GOTHIC TO MODERN we explore the ideas and mindset of Enric Miralles, the genius of our lifetime. He and his firm, EMBT, designed one of the most brilliant works of architecture in the city: the renovation of the Santa Caterina Market. Today we want to explain some more details about this great project.

Santa Caterina market was built in 1848 and the restoration project sought to exploit the multifaceted nature of its surroundings and devise a solution where the commercial use of the building is complemented by the residential buildings and by the public spaces that criss-cross this part of the city.

The rehabilitation project of the municipal market of Santa Caterina is one of those works that are systematically being used as a reference for other projects.

The option of demolishing the buildings was rejected at the outset. The idea was that the market’s new look should still intrinsic to the history of the place. Thus, new structures were erected over old ones, mixed in and blended with them so that the whole thing appears as a conglomerate, a hybrid that is at once useful and contemporary yet reveals the building’s history. The roof has been clad with glazed porcelain tiles fired at low temperature. These are white paste tiles that allowed us to work with brilliant, transparent glazes. This was particularly important if they were to produce the very crisp colours they had decided on when they conceived the project.

Description of the project by EMBT

A competition was opened to restore the Santa Caterina city market located in the old quarter of Barcelona in 1997. EMBT won the bid with a proposal that aimed at incorporating the extreme complexity of the setting itself by creating a commercial market complemented by a residential zone and public spaces that integrated all the activities of the neighborhood.

The project maintains parts of the existing structure and the architects proposed a new and creative render of the area which respected the history and context of the site.

The proposal superimposes new architecture on old, mixes them, and comes up with a conglomerate, a hybrid that accentuates usefulness and is contemporary. The interior distribution of the market was reorganized; there are fewer stands but the access and service systems are rationalized; the surface area of public spaces gains ground and communicates with the Avinguda Francesc Cambó, an important transitional vein in the neighborhood also surrounded by a dense network of narrow streets.

Barcelona & The Market: looking the city as Enric Miralles

Posted on April 5, 2018April 5, 2018 by cm

See Barcelona through the eyes of Enric Miralles discovering the refurbishing of Santa Caterina Market.

Today we want to talk about one of our favorite walking tours, Barcelona & The Market , with it, we explore the ideas and mindset of Enric Miralles, a genius in our lifetime. With Benedetta Tagliabue, he designed one of the most brilliant works of architecture in this city: the refurbishing of Santa Caterina Market.

In1997 a competition was opened to restore the Santa Caterina city market located in the old quarter of Barcelona. EMBT, Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue won the bid with a proposal that aimed at incorporating the extreme complexity of the setting itself by creating a commercial market complemented by a residential zone and public spaces that integrated all the activities of the neighborhood.

The architectural design of Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue with the dramatic cover colorful mosaic designed by artist Toni Comella. The market within the housing development is part of the package of rehabilitation being undertaken by the Institute for Market in Barcelona, under the Town Hall.

This was the first covered market in the city, opened the year 1848. His story begins with the demolition of the convent of Santa Caterina, whose land was granted to the City Council to lift the market. The architect Miralles died before finishing the construction of the work.

The proposal for the rehabilitation of the old Santa Caterina Market, located in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, involves action on the urban tissue adjacent to the existing structure to streamline its location. At the same time, the intervention aims to “mixed and confused with the original structure. Both aims are achieved through the implementation of a new roof, which involves the structure and extends beyond the perimeter of the building first.

The architects describe the city quarter of Santa Caterina in Barcelona as a city within a city. They offer the market renovation as a critique of a futile attempt by the city authorities to control complexity in the area’s development. Miralle Tagliabu respond by acknowledging this complexity, then cultivating it until it grows to maturity. Eventually, the architecture imposes its own rationale on the city achieving what planning strictures can never create: a city that lives, breathes, and loves its architecture.

The essence of this project is based on the design of its cover, which part of the metaphor of an ocean colored by memories of fruit and vegetables. Recover it and also elements used in the School of Music in Hamburg.

The work is spectacular and plays an important role in planning the recovery of Ciutat Vella (municipal project in which he was actively involved Miralles).

With our Barcelona & The Market we begin the journey in Roman Barcelona, then travel to the Carolingian era, the post-Franco era, Olympic Barcelona and, finally, the era that created el forat de la vergonya (the hole of shame). The walk ends in the market, where we will do some fieldwork to check Miralles’ methods, along with some of the processes that formed part of his modus operandi.

And here you have our Spring tours program:

BARCELONA & GAUDI a great start to discover the genius of Gaudí. Every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday as Regular Walking tour. And Monday and Wednesday as a Private Tour.

BARCELONA & THE URBANISM travel with us to the origins of the modern Barcelona. Every Wednesday.

BARCELONA & THE FUTURE CITY walk through the smart-city looking for our Future and discover with us the new Superblock at Poblenou. Every Thursday.

BARCELONA & THE SEA discover Barcelona through its architecture. Every Saturday.

BARCELONA & THE MARKET see Barcelona through the eyes of Enric Miralles. Every Monday.

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Barcelona Architecture Walks 7th anniversary!

Posted on November 2, 2017November 6, 2017 by cm

7th anniversary of our first Barcelona Architecture Walks.

Last Monday October 30th we celebrated 7 years of our first BARCELONA ARCHITECTURE WALKS, together with sporadic tourists and some friends, we unfolded our vision of the genius Enric Miralles around his reform of Santa Caterina Market and La Ribera neighborhood.

In these 7 years we have learned from each of our walkers, walkers who have given us their eyes and attention to immerse them in the universe that architects breathe.
During the way we have diversified the routes, 5 urban explorations per week allow us to offer the traveler a polyhedral architectural immersion, beside Custom Tours and all kinds of critical expressions.
In these 7 years we went from being two (Miel Arquitectos) to 10 in the current team, without forgetting all those who bequeathed us their wisdom temporarily… like Joan and Jordi from El Globus Vermell, or Carola with his eternal smile!

Our team from left to right, Miguel Angel and Elodie ( Miel Arquitectos and BAW’s founders) Ricard, Martina, Jelena, Cristina, and Carmen as leading architects and Jaume and Mavi as web master and communication managers.

WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO CELEBRATE THAT WE KEEP GROWING WITH THE COURAGE OF OUR WALKERS!!!

And here you have our autumn Tours program.

BARCELONA & THE MARKET see Barcelona through the eyes of Enric Miralles. Every Monday.

BARCELONA & GAUDI a great start to discover the genius of Gaudí. Every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday as Regular Walking tour. And Monday and Wednesday as a Private Tour.

BARCELONA & THE URBANISM travel with us to the origins of the modern Barcelona. Every Wednesday.

BARCELONA & THE FUTURE CITY walk through the smart city looking for our Future and discover with us the new Superblock at Poblenou. Every Thursday.

BARCELONA & THE SEA discover Barcelona through its architecture. Every Saturday.

BARCELONA & BOFILL Walden 7 and Taller de Arquitectura expedition. An incredible travel through the most emblematic Ricardo Bofill’s masterpiece.

Come and walk with us and live a fantastic experience!!!

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