View Full Version : [Valencia] Palau de les Arts - Santiago Calatrava
primocordara 03-10-2005, 23:33 The Palau de les Arts at Valencia Opens this week.
It is the last of a series of buildings by Santiago Calatrava.
Here the kmz and the link for further directions on how to get there
http://www.cac.es/
more on the building at www.calatrava.com (http://www.calatrava.com/)
primocordara 03-10-2005, 23:36 It is the building to the left
primocordara 03-10-2005, 23:45 an aerial view of the construction. The nearest is the Palau.
primocordara 03-10-2005, 23:56 google view
Looks like a whale skeleton lying on the beach... :D
Thx Primo for info and links.
primocordara 04-10-2005, 00:47 Looks like a whale skeleton lying on the beach... :D
Thx Primo for info and links.
Sure! I saw an exhibition on Calatrava, at the entrance was the skeleton of his childhood dog.
He actually dig for the bones and assembled the skeleton when he was twelve! he now keeps it in his studio (well not during this exhibition...!)
BTW the one in the picture is L'hemisferic, not the Palau
The thing that I found most impressive about the new Calatrava arts and science complex is the way that it is situated on an old river bed. Valencia was prone to flooding during the rainy season so they just decided to divert the whole river around the outside of the town! The old river bed is now a massive series of parks and gardens. You walk through the gardens and approach the arts and science complex along the old river bed - which sadly isn't phographed as much so unless you go there you don't get an idea of the real effect.
Here's a pic taken on a visit in June to give you some idea...
BTW. Valencia rocks - it is so much better than Barcelona - it feels less touristy and more real IMHO.
primocordara 04-10-2005, 11:34 You're right Hot rat! I realized this with the aerial view on google, just now.
I haven't been to Valencia yet, but don't you mess up with Barcelona!;)
Barcelona rocks for sure. And for architecture yes there is probably more to see. Unfortunately, Barcelona being such a vibrant city attracts the tacky element too (you know jugs of Sangria and lots of drunk Brits on stag weekends..).
And Valencia is the home of the original paella (the one made with rabbit and snails) the one the locals eat.
mmmm paella.
primocordara 04-10-2005, 11:57 Ja, Ja, just had Paella a few days ago, but no snails or rabit on it!
Barcelona is allso inhabited by Catalans, sooo arrogant about their nationality (they do have someting to be proud of, for shure...).
BTW I'm Gallego...:D (North west of Spain)
primocordara 07-10-2005, 17:31 And Valencia is the home of the original paella (the one made with rabbit and snails) the one the locals eat.
mmmm paella.
Hey Hotrats:
Just now Spanish TV is transmitting live from the PALAU, while they are at it, they brought a chef to teach how to cook... Paella Valenciana!
I taped it and let you know how it came out...!
Pedro Barradas 07-10-2005, 17:35 Rats, never heard about snails on Paella, are you shure...?!!!!
I like snails, but only snails and a beer...of course.
primocordara 07-10-2005, 17:54 Rats, never heard about snails on Paella, are you shure...?!!!!
I like snails, but only snails and a beer...of course.
They said nothing about snails... only rabbit!
Just now Spanish TV is transmitting live from the PALAU, while they are at it, they brought a chef to teach how to cook... Paella Valenciana!
I taped it and let you know how it came out...!
Primocordara,
Muchos gracias.
Pedro Barradas,
I think the snails are optional but they were definitely in the one I had. I think they are known locally as "baquetes".
sigue2000 07-10-2005, 19:17 I think the snails are optional but they were definitely in the one I had. I think they are known locally as "baquetes".
Or your Paella had been laying around a while. :D
primocordara 07-10-2005, 20:35 Or your Paella had been laying around a while. :D
Or someone's having a big laught a Valencia!!:D
primocordara 16-10-2005, 06:36 The valencia metro posts 14 bicycle road maps for visiting the city.
You take the metro with the bike, and ride from the indicated metro station.
The most interesting for architects is Nº 2 -viejo cauce del Turia "old river basin ride", check it out:
http://www.metrovalencia.com/metroval/html/viaja_metroval/bicimetro.htm
primocordara 16-10-2005, 06:40 Check this thread for other interesting buildings at Valencia:
http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11321#post11321
…….As promised a couple of weeks ago – a little photo tour of some of Calatrava’s work in Valencia from a visit last June.
One of the interesting things about Valencia is that in 1950 the city decided to reroute the whole Turor river that ran through the city. The old river was prone to flooding and was rerouted so that it runs around the outside of the city,
The route of the old river-bed has been transformed so that it is now a series of gardens, parks and sports pitches. At the end of these gardens is the Calatrava designed Ciutat De Les Arts I Les Ciencies (city of arts and sciences).
A nice way to approach the Calatrava Arts and Sciences complex is to walk south through the riverbed gardens. A leisurely paced walk from where we started takes about 45 minutes.
We started our journey at the Calatrava designed Alameda bridge. You can get there by metro on line 3/5 and stop at Alameda station which is directly underneath the bridge.
Underneath is the Metro. A peek inside the station reveals typical Calatrava concrete work.
Head south along the old riverbed through the gardens…
There’s loads of shade and fountains on the way, which makes it ideal for a picnic.
On the way you pass Norman Foster’s Palau de la Música. (I’ll stick some more pics of that in a separate post).
You finally reach the Ciutat De Les Arts I Les Ciencies through the gardens…The complex is made up of 4 main attractions. The first you see (most northern) is the massive Palau de les Arts. This was still being built and is an opera theatre and arts centre.
Next up is the L’Hemisferic – an imax cinema and planeterium.
Beyond that is the Museu de les Ciencies (science museum).
All of the attractions are surrounded by landscaped pools. A Calatrava bridge separates the Palau de les Arts from the other three attractions.
View from under the bridge..
Another shot of the Museu de les Ciencies.
The forth attraction is a under cover botanical garden called L’Umbracle. Underneath this is the coach drop off area. This can be seen in the background behind the end of L'Hemisferic.
A shot of the Museu de les Ciencies taken from the L'Umbracle.
L'Hemisferic with the Palau de les Arts in the background.
Close up of the trusswork that supports a walk way in front of the Museu de les Ciencies. Unfortunately we couldn't go up there as it was being prepared for a festival fireworks display. :bang head
A pic of L'Umbracle taken from underneath the trusswork in the previous pic. The covered area underneath L'Umbracle is a walkway and coach drop-off.
Inside L'Umbracle. The structure's scale is impressive but as a botanical garden it really is quite dull....
Walkway and seating area next to L'Umbracle (directly above the coach drop off). Supposedly there are shaded areas for seating but it was too bl**dy hot.
There are steps down to the pools and coach drop off. All of the external works are covered in white mosaic. The pool areas look so tempting in the Valencia heat but you're not allowed to swim in them. :bang head
Underneath L'Umbracle. Here there are stalls selling the local drink called Horchata which is made of tiger nuts. - Very refreshing.
Looking across from underneath L'Umbracle towards Museu de les Ciencies. The concrete walkway that was closed is near the top of the pic.
Inside the Museu de les Ciencies. Although the building itself is really impressive the displays are a bit crap. There is not really that much to see if you're taking kids there which for a museum is poor. We were there for the architecture though..... :D
Detail of the concrete internal trusses.
And the escalator going down again...
for more info check El Primo's previous post..
http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=881
:peace:
primocordara 14-02-2006, 13:04 Excelent post bloke! the metro company sugests a bicycle tour around there too! :craqueur: :clap: :clap:
jedisalf 14-02-2006, 13:54 Excellent, nice pictures:
I kinda have 2 feelings on Calatravas architecture, first yeah, is nice, and he creates some unique spaces, (the inside of the canary islands opera is just stunning) But on the oter hand, I think hes too "literal" on his structural designs, I mean, when he inspires on a skeleton type of scheme, the inal work is just that, a corpse, a giant rib cage or something, when he thinks on a eye, the final design is just that a huuuuuuuuuge eye, with eye lashes and everything, so i dont know, I have mixed feelings on his arhcitecture.
BTW, i dont think thats a FOster's building, thats from a spanish architect, if im not mistaken.
BTW, i dont think thats a FOster's building, thats from a spanish architect, if im not mistaken.
I think you might be right. I thought it didn't have much in common with anything else Foster's done but he doesn't really have a signature style...
Two resources state two different architects. One says Foster,
http://www.footprintguides.com/Valencia/Arts-and-Entertainment.php
the other says José María Paredes.
http://www.music-opera.com/site_english/ville_valencia_e.htm
... hmmmm strange.... :wondering
maybe it was done by both of them. Like the new Barajas Airport that was done by Rogers and Lamela.
Anyways thank you for the pictures. They show a good trip being good pictures
jedisalf 14-02-2006, 14:45 Foster did the Valencia Congress Center in spain, but no that Music Hall.
GinSoakedBoy 14-02-2006, 14:59 I think that Calatrava it's a great architect/enginer but i have to say that my contact with his works left a bitter-sweet taste.
The example that i know best it's Gare do Oriente, it was built for the EXPO 98 to be one of the points of arrival/departure, of trains, metro, buses, cabs, for the city of Lisbon. It's a space that appeals to the eye, but when you are there waiting for a train it's windy and cold, and this is when it's not raining, but the goal of making a Landmark was acomplished.
Btw... this photo is from this site were you can find more photos of Lisbon (http://www.travel-earth.com/lisbon/)
Excellent, nice pictures:
I kinda have 2 feelings on Calatravas architecture, first yeah, is nice, and he creates some unique spaces, (the inside of the canary islands opera is just stunning) But on the oter hand, I think hes too "literal" on his structural designs, I mean, when he inspires on a skeleton type of scheme, the inal work is just that, a corpse, a giant rib cage or something, when he thinks on a eye, the final design is just that a huuuuuuuuuge eye, with eye lashes and everything, so i dont know, I have mixed feelings on his arhcitecture.
BTW, i dont think thats a FOster's building, thats from a spanish architect, if im not mistaken.
I had the dubious honour of working with Calatrava, albeit very briefly, on a project in Malaysia 10 years ago. He was competing with YRM (Anthony Hunt) to work with us to design a 1.2km long stilted structure that spanned across the river in central KL. I found it fascinating and rather annoying at the same time as he designs with a calculator at his side, sketching concepts and then checking required structural sizes....an amazing skill I reckon! His design was a structurally conceptualised version of the trees alongside the river and looked amazingly elegant. The Chinese client was less than impressed when his proposed bill was based upon a percentage of the 1.2km structural build rather than the 50m structural module that he had actually designed!!!
The proposed structure was very similar to one he had completed 2 years earlier in Toronto, Canada.......
Image here (http://www.vitruvio.ch/arcgallery/canada/calatrava/allanlambertgalleria_01.jpg)
these pics rock, they are awesome.. i have always liked calatrava biut i have never seen the structural detail at the human scale... wow.. calatrava's work is incredible.. the structure is simply beautiful.. he certainly makes work by bates smart/fed square in melbourne look like crap... i think this showy volumetric contorted shape stuff will age quickly in comparison to the beautiful structure of this building...
imasayer 14-02-2006, 21:23 Thanks for sharing. You have some great shots. Does anyone know if Calatrava ever mention's Gaudi's influence in his work? Another Spanish architect working with forms strongly influenced by nature, just coincidence? I wonder if Gaudi would be doing similar work if he were alive today.
jedisalf 15-02-2006, 17:20 I think that Calatrava it's a great architect/enginer but i have to say that my contact with his works left a bitter-sweet taste.
The example that i know best it's Gare do Oriente, it was built for the EXPO 98 to be one of the points of arrival/departure, of trains, metro, buses, cabs, for the city of Lisbon. It's a space that appeals to the eye, but when you are there waiting for a train it's windy and cold, and this is when it's not raining, but the goal of making a Landmark was acomplished.
I havent seen any calatrava work in real life....but thats the same thing that some person told me about his works on athens for the olympics, only in teh summer, so the sun and heat was horrible, and you couldnt find a place to cover in shadows, even though that was the intetntion to some of his "promenades"..... Like that umbracule on this thread pictures, they sure look nice, but they dont cast any shadows at all, their elements are too thin.
|
|