'Està molt bé' (or 'it's really very good') was the phrase most heard from the thousands who flocked to see the new Els Encants Vells - Barcelona's locally legendary flea market - on its first day of operation.
Public acceptance is the acid test for any project. For more than 80 years, Els Encants Vells has been a beloved hub of back-alley retail, a frenetic labyrinth of gypsy rag-traders and tat dealers hawking everything from underwear to old buttons. They toiled from a dusty and sun-parched plot at Glòríes, a traffic-clogged axis that has been the target of urban overhaul for some time now. Situated just opposite the city's forthcoming design museum DHUB (due to open in 2014), the revamped Els Encants Vells is a major leap forward in converting the area into a new leisure ground.
Local practice b720 Arquitectos, headed by Fermín Vázquez, was faced with the formidable task of putting order into Els Encants Vells while retaining its organic, streetwise character. They did so by creating a giant 'canopy' for the sellers - an 800 sq m open-sided platform under which the cabin-like stalls are arranged in a gently sloping formation. The canopy itself consists of sculptural metallic 'leaves', supported on elegant, thin poles tilted towards the sky. Their shiny surfaces reflect not only the frenzy of market activity below but also that of the pedestrians hovering around, bringing street life into the realm of Els Encants Vells and vice versa.
The centrepiece of the architects' revamped structure is a giant 'canopy' for the sellers - an 800 sq m open-sided platform under which the cabin-like stalls are situated in a gently sloping formation.
The canopy itself consists of sculptural metallic 'leaves', supported on elegant, thin poles tilted towards the sky.
Its shiny surface will reflect not only the frenzy of market activity below, but also that of the pedestrians hovering around.
ADDRESS
El Encants Vells
Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes
Barcelona
-
An architect’s own home offers a refined and leafy retreat from its East London surroundingsStudioshaw has completed a courtyard house in amongst a cluster of traditional terraced houses, harnessing the sun and plenty of greenery to bolster privacy and warmth
-
Finlandia Hall bistro blends culinary indulgence with reborn modernismFinlandia Hall bistro opens in Helsinki, adding a foodie dimension to the Finnish modernist architecture marvel by Alvar Aalto
-
Reimagining remembrance: Urn Studios introduces artistic urns to the UKBridging the gap between art and memory, Urn Studios offers contemporary, handcrafted funeral urns designed to be proudly displayed
-
Antoni Gaudí: a guide to the architect’s magical worldCatalan creative Antoni Gaudí has been a unique figure in global architectural history; we delve into the magical world of his mesmerising creations
-
The case of Casa Batlló: inside Antoni Gaudí’s ‘happiest’ workCasa Batlló by Catalan master architect Antoni Gaudí has just got a refresh; we find out more
-
Bodegas Faustino Winery celebrates process through its versatile vaulted visitor centreBodegas Faustino Winery completes extension by Foster + Partners in Spain, marking a new chapter to the long-standing history between the architecture practice and their client
-
Playball Studio's architecture balances the organic and the technicalPlayball Studio, a young Indo-Spanish design practice, features in the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2024
-
In Palma, beloved watch boutique Relojeria Alemana gets a dramatic revampEdificio RA for Relojeria Alemana has been redesigned by OHLAB, refreshing a historical landmark in Palma, Mallorca with a 21st-century twist
-
Santiago Bernabéu stadium redesign: a sneak peek into the worksWe take a tour of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, as the beloved sports facility is being given a refresh
-
MOCA is a self-sufficient mobile home offering freedom to work (and roam)MOCA (Mobile Catalyst) is a sustainable mobile home designed by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, and taking remote working to a new level
-
Low-energy house in Catalonia minimises its footprint to make the most of its siteAlventosa Morell Arquitectes’ low-energy house in Catalonia nestles into the landscape
