The site is in the medieval village of Olite. The architect had to take into account the existence of old galleries constructed in the 11th and 12th centuries, of great historical importance, that were probably the entrance to the cellars of a palace. (more…)

Due to a wave of immigration to Barcelona in the middle of the 19th century and to increasingly difficult living conditions, the city’s government decided to construct a new district called Eixample. This area became a playground for the architects of the Catalan Modernisme, such as Josep Puigi Cadafalch, Antonio Gaudi, and Lluis Domenechi Montaner. At Passeig de Gracia, Eixample’s splendid boulevard, these three masters of Modernisme competed with one another to build the most beautiful house. (more…)

This lavish decorated apartment building is a tale of two facades. While its organic curves and intricate mezzanine balconies are a miracle of stonework at the front, the more imposing undulating curves, bulging protuberances, and colourful tiling at the rear provide a rather different but equally impressive sight. (more…)

Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen are two figures paradigmatic of the art of the second half of the 20th century who, starting with pop art, have brought a new vision of what they themselves call ‘private art in public spaces.’ One of the clearest examples is that of Capsa de Mistos. (more…)

Atocha Station is in the centre of Madrid, a short distance from the Reina Sofia and Prado Museums. The huge glass and steel roof of the old 19th-century station had to be conserved and restored and, at the same time, the new building had to house a sigh speed train station and stations for local trains, buses, and the subway, in addition to a large area of parking. (more…)

It is hard to believe that this outlandish Modernist creation used to be a factory. Its elegant, open parabolic arches, undulating domed roofs, and minaret-like tower are a joy to behold while its aesthetically pleasing smooth curves seem to ache to be touched. Located in the city of Terrassa, which is known for its fabric manufacturing, Masia Freixa was originally a textile mill. In 1910 it was converted into this Gaudi-inspired, organic yet austere sea of arches as a private residence for the industrialist Jose Freixa. (more…)