Five buildings of the University of Barcelona open their doors this weekend in the 48h Open House BCN
Loyal to every yearʼs event, eight so far, the University of Barcelona is taking part in the 48 Open House BCN, the architecture festival in Barcelona which takes place this weekend, organized by Associació Open House Barcelona. This year, the University opens the doors of five of its buildings: Güell Pavilions, the Pavilion of the Spanish Republic, Palau de les Heures, Torre de la Creu (Sant Joan Despí) and Hotel Alimara, participating for the first time. These places are added to the more than two-hundred buildings and infrastructures that are opening their doors on the 21st and 22nd of October, as part of the 48h Open House BCN. The participating buildings are from all districts, all time periods and typologies, which are usually closed to the public or restricted access, and which now people will be able to visit for free. Barcelona is not the only headquarters of this festival. Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Vilassar de Dalt, Sant Joan Despí and Badalona are participating in the festival once more. Also, this year Hospitalet de Llobregat joins the festival as invited city.
Loyal to every yearʼs event, eight so far, the University of Barcelona is taking part in the 48 Open House BCN, the architecture festival in Barcelona which takes place this weekend, organized by Associació Open House Barcelona. This year, the University opens the doors of five of its buildings: Güell Pavilions, the Pavilion of the Spanish Republic, Palau de les Heures, Torre de la Creu (Sant Joan Despí) and Hotel Alimara, participating for the first time. These places are added to the more than two-hundred buildings and infrastructures that are opening their doors on the 21st and 22nd of October, as part of the 48h Open House BCN. The participating buildings are from all districts, all time periods and typologies, which are usually closed to the public or restricted access, and which now people will be able to visit for free. Barcelona is not the only headquarters of this festival. Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Vilassar de Dalt, Sant Joan Despí and Badalona are participating in the festival once more. Also, this year Hospitalet de Llobregat joins the festival as invited city.
Barcelona
On October 21, the Güell Pavilions (avinguda de Pedralbes, 15) will be open. This is the first work by Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona. In 1883, the architect received the request to build some pavilions to enter the Finca Güell. Both buildings correspond to the doormanʼs house and the stable. The entrance door stands out, known as Porta del drac, a great sculpture made of wrought iron symbolizing the mythological dragon in the poem LʼAtlàntida, by Jacint Verdaguer. Guided tours are between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
On Sunday, October 22, the Pavilion of the Spanish Republic (avinguda del Cardenal Vidal i Barraquer, 34-36) can be visited from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The building is a replica of the building built by the architects Josep Lluís Sert and Luis Lacasa to represent the Spanish Republich at the International Expo of Paris in 1937, during the Civil War. The courtyward offers a reproduction of the known Guernika, by Picasso. Apart from the guided tours, the artist Sonia Gómez will offer an animated composition at 12 a.m. and at 5 p.m. Also, at 4 p.m. there will be a guided tour by the architect of the reconstruction of the pavilion, Antoni Ubach.
The Palau de les Heures (carrer de lʼHarmonia, s/n), also in the Mundet campus of the UB, will open this Sunday. The building, also known as casa Gallart, is one of the most unique in Barcelona: it was built in the late 19th century by the Gallart family, and during the Civil War it was the secret residence of the President Lluís Companys. There will be guided tours on Sunday (from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.). During the tour, visitors can access the air-raid shelter built by the republican troops to protect President Companys.
For the first time, Hotel Alimara (carrer de Berruguete, 126) will also open its doors. It is located in the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy CETT-UB. The hotel was to be opened by the 92ʼ Olympic Games. Due several reasons, the building work was stopped during some years, until a school on hospitality that could work together with the hotelʼs functioning was set up, the CETT-UB. Both buildings were opened in 1995. The main feature of the project is the location near ronda de Dalt, which places the rooms in one or the other side, always with window views but never facing the urban highway, avoiding the visual and sound impact of car traffic. Guided tours will take place on Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sant Joan Despí
During the weekend people can also visit Torre de la Creu (passeig de Canalies, 14), a modernist historical building, cultural property of national interest. This place, known as Torre dels Ous, was built by the architect Josep Maria Jujol, between 1913 and 1916 and is now one of the head offices of the Area of Complimentary Training of the UB. There will be guided tours on Sunday afternoon, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, all day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. People can also visit it within an urban itinerary through different spots in Sant Joan Despí with an expert guide. This tour will take place on Saturday, from 12 noon and at 4 p.m., and on Sunday at 10 a.m. and 12 noon. The activity is free but registration is required by sending an email to openhouse@sjdespi.net.
48h Open House BCN, the main date between the city and architecture
Open House project was born in London in1992 and has spread to other model cities regarding architecture and design such as New York, Dublin, Galway, Tel Aviv and Barcelona.
In 2016, the 48h Open House BCN received 30,138 visitors. This eight edition consolidates an initiative that aims to share the excellence of good architecture, urbanism and design among citizens and internationally.
More information in 48h Open House BCN
48h Open House 2017 - La pell de l'arquitectura from Open House Barcelona on Vimeo.