June 5, 2009
Architect: Abalos and Herreros
Date: 2003
Location: Madrid, Spain
Built in a still somewhat lower-end neighborhood this library was constructed on a tight budget. The building sits as a skyscraper among the surrounding buildings.
Jose Hierro Exterior
June 5, 2009
Architect: Mansilla and Tunon
Date: 2003
Locationi: Madrid, Spain
The Biblioteca Regional and Archive is a conversion of an old brewery. The building is split in two separate parts, the Library and the Archive. The Library is held within the old building and has turned the old silos into storage space.
Library with old Silos
June 5, 2009
We started the day by going to see another archive building. The Biblioteca Regional and Archive is a new complex that expands on the old Aguila Brewery. We then proceeded south out of the center of the city. We arrived at a lower-end part of the city where there has been some new development including the Biblioteca Publica Jose Hierro. From the library we went to see some of the new housing projects. This is one area where the difference between America and Spain is easily apparent.
Spanish Housing Projects
June 4, 2009
In what is easily the best day of the trip we made our way to Toledo. Again we started our day in Atoch Station but instead of getting on a regular train we got on to a high speed train. I have for a long time liked the idea of a high speed train network and this was the first time I have been on a high speed train. The high speed train was very nice and found the ride smooth. We made it to Toledo in a half-hour versus the hour it takes to drive it in a car.
Upon arrival in Toledo we started the walk to the old city which sits up on a hill above the surrounding area.
Toledo from below
June 3, 2009
In the morning we met at Atocha Station to take a train out to El Escorial. Atocha Station was expanded recently to meat the new demands of the high speed trains. This addition by Rafael Moneo holds the new train sheds while the original train shed was turned into a greenhouse.
Atocha Station Dome
Atocha Station Original Shed
June 2, 2009
Architect: Rafael de la Hoz
Date: 2004-2008
Location: Madrid, Spain
The new headquarters for Telefonica are built on the outskirts of Madrid. Instead of creating a single large building the new headquarters are a complex that consists of office space as well as restaurants, grocery stores, and a gymnasium.
Telefonica Headquarters
June 2, 2009
Architect: Javier Saenz de Oiza
Date: 1979-1981
Location: Madrid, Spain
Torre BBVA is part of the group of buildings built in the 1970s. The entire building is supported on a central core with the floors cantilevering out. Although the building was built before the green movement this building employs the use of sun shades to help keep it cool which give the building its unique look.
Torre BBVA
June 2, 2009
In the morning we visited the Museo del Prado. There was some really nice work inside the museum but one of the most interesting was the Las Meninas. This painting was to be of the King and Queen but instead they are represented in the mirror in the far back causing the viewer to be placed as the King and Queen.
Las Meninas (not my photo)
June 1, 2009
Architect: Jean Nouvel
Date: 2005
Location: Madrid, Spain
We approached the Reina Sofia from the plaza on the opposite side of the new addition. From this side the only visible signs of the addition is a pair of elevator towers.
Reina Sofia Old Section
June 1, 2009
Architect: Herzog & De Muron
Date: 2008
Location: Madrid, Spain
In Spain it is common for banks to create free cultural institutions and the Caixa Forum is one of the prominent examples. The bank la Caixa commissioned Herzog & de Meuron to design this building. The building is built within and on top of the hollowed out existing industrial building.
Caixa Forum
June 1, 2009
We started class at the Circulo de Bellas Artes, located across from the Metropolis Building, where we learned that Cafe Americano is coffee with water added. From this point we started to walk down Calle de Alcala to Paseo del Prado which is the major cultural axis in the city of Madrid.
Metropolis Building
May 30, 2009
The first day we had in Madrid was spent wandering around but first we went over to another hostel to meet Tyler to go and get phones but ended up waiting for a little while until all of a sudden I heard someone calling, “Jake, Aric” and we looked up and at the same time both said “Joe?” who was leaning out his window. I was extremely excited because I have never had a conversation with someone who was leaning out a window. This started the day where we wandered around and ended up at the nearby plaza Sol where we ended up getting phones. We headed back to Las Musas before setting out again. On the way out this time we noticed a building that pretty much looked like any other building except the facade was an Escher print.
M.C. Escher Building
May 27-29, 2009
First thing that happens in a foreign country is you go through customs where you get a stamp and in Dublin they write down what you are there for. The agent wrote down that I was there For the Purpose of: “Visit.” I don’t know why but I thought it was a really interesting phrasing. We found out the room was not ready yet so we dropped our bags off and wandered around Dublin finding food and seeing the sights. We went through the shopping district and ended up at the Christ Church Cathedral (photos).
Christ Church Cathedral