CaixaForum Barcelona
The CaixaForum is a museum and auditorium in the Catalan city of Barcelona. It is located in the building of the former textile factory Fàbrica Casa Ramona. In 2002 CaixaForum opened exhibitions with the diverse and changing themes of contemporary art are shown. The CaixaForum Barcelona is a cultural and social commitment of the social part of the Fundació " la Caixa" of La Caixa, Europe's largest savings bank.
Location
The CaixaForum is located in the center of Barcelona, at the foot of Montjuïc at the Avinguda del Marqués de Comillas.
History
The building was commissioned by the industrialist Casimir Casa Ramona, a pioneer in the use of electrically operated machines in order. The Spanish architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch in 1909 was commissioned to build the factory. Puig i Cadafalch was one of the most important architects of the Catalan Art Nouveau. The construction of brick with cast iron ornaments, was created in the style of medieval castles. The factory building was groundbreaking in terms of fire protection and was in Spain long as a benchmark for modern working conditions.
1913, the building was inaugurated. However, in 1919 changed the textile mill their location and the building stood empty. From 1940 to 1992, it was used by the city of Barcelona as a police station. In 1963, the savings bank La Caixa owner of the building, which made in 1976 as a monument of national importance under protection.
1996, plans for a museum under the direction of Francisco Asarta, an expert on the restoration of Art Nouveau buildings. During the renovation of the building, the focus was on the preservation of the original structure, color and style. The concept was a modern extension with new entrance in the basement under a historic building to relocate after the famous example of the " Grand Louvre " in Paris. As an extension was added in an auditorium with 300 seats.
The extensive 3,000 m² exhibit space flooding in through roof openings with light. The entrance was designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, striking is his use of simple geometric shapes and playing with shadow and light. Isozaki designed the underground entrance through sculptural, tree-like canopies of glass and steel. Your complex shape is in contrast with the strictly vertical structure of the old building facade.
In 2002, the CaixaForum Barcelona was opened. It offers a wide range of activities for the public, by the music and visual arts to social programs, education and humanities - and admission is free.
Swell
- Fundació La Caixa (in Catalan and Spanish)
- CaixaForum Barcelona ( in German )