The 19th century Eixample
Just beyond where the old city walls of Barcelona stood is the area called the Eixample. In Catalan Eixample means, “extension” and this is exactly what the Eixample was when it was constructed. During the 19th century Barcelona was just becoming a booming city due to industrialization. The 1888 World Fair was hosted in Barcelona and also led to the city’s new found identity as well as the Catalan search for independence. Today the monument of Christopher Colombus is still standing as it was at the 1888 World Fair. Because the city was growing so quickly the government had to intervene and create a new layout for the expansion that was to be built. After many debates the man Ildefons Cerdà was chosen as the chief engineer who would design the layout of the new extension. His plan was characterized by long and wide streets, and a strict grid pattern with square blocks and chamfered corners. Cerdà’s vision was to open up the streets and avenues in order to improve ventilation and increase the amount of sunlight that hit the streets. Conclusively he wanted to improve the life of the citizens of Barcelona.
The Eixample is embodied by Modernisme works of architecture, particularly the works of Antoni Gaudi, Puig, and Domenech. The Block of Discord on Passeig de Gracia exhibits the genius of all three men through the architecture masterpieces of Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Casa Lleo-Morera, and Casa Amatller. These buildings exhibit the cultural movement called Moderisme that was brought upon by industrialization as well as the Renixenca, which sought for Catalan independence. Modernisme works of art portray sinuous and dynamic lines that have organic forms derived from nature. Gaudi’s Casa Batllo creates a story of Saint George slaying the dragon through its creative façade. The roof of the building portrays the dragon’s scales and the cross atop the building represents Saint George’s lance piercing the dragon. On the front wall the balconies are modeled to look like human skulls of the dragons victims, and the exterior supports look like human bones. Conclusively the 19th century Eixample transformed Barcelona as a city not only by appearance, but it also gave Barcelona an identity through Modernisme.
Just beyond where the old city walls of Barcelona stood is the area called the Eixample. In Catalan Eixample means, “extension” and this is exactly what the Eixample was when it was constructed. During the 19th century Barcelona was just becoming a booming city due to industrialization. The 1888 World Fair was hosted in Barcelona and also led to the city’s new found identity as well as the Catalan search for independence. Today the monument of Christopher Colombus is still standing as it was at the 1888 World Fair. Because the city was growing so quickly the government had to intervene and create a new layout for the expansion that was to be built. After many debates the man Ildefons Cerdà was chosen as the chief engineer who would design the layout of the new extension. His plan was characterized by long and wide streets, and a strict grid pattern with square blocks and chamfered corners. Cerdà’s vision was to open up the streets and avenues in order to improve ventilation and increase the amount of sunlight that hit the streets. Conclusively he wanted to improve the life of the citizens of Barcelona.
The Eixample is embodied by Modernisme works of architecture, particularly the works of Antoni Gaudi, Puig, and Domenech. The Block of Discord on Passeig de Gracia exhibits the genius of all three men through the architecture masterpieces of Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Casa Lleo-Morera, and Casa Amatller. These buildings exhibit the cultural movement called Moderisme that was brought upon by industrialization as well as the Renixenca, which sought for Catalan independence. Modernisme works of art portray sinuous and dynamic lines that have organic forms derived from nature. Gaudi’s Casa Batllo creates a story of Saint George slaying the dragon through its creative façade. The roof of the building portrays the dragon’s scales and the cross atop the building represents Saint George’s lance piercing the dragon. On the front wall the balconies are modeled to look like human skulls of the dragons victims, and the exterior supports look like human bones. Conclusively the 19th century Eixample transformed Barcelona as a city not only by appearance, but it also gave Barcelona an identity through Modernisme.
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