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Barcelona (22) Roofs

A view from Hotel H10 in Via Laietana. 1 Agbar tower, in Plaza de las Glorias, 2 Ciutadella Park starts, 3 towers at the Olympic harbor, 4 Ciutadella park ends

A view from Hotel H10 in Via Laietana. 1 Agbar tower, in Plaza de las Glorias, 2 Ciutadella Park starts, 3 towers at the Olympic harbor, 4 Ciutadella park ends

It is often worth going to an upper belvedere (here the roof terrace of a hotel in Via Laietana) and see what is around. Buildings can seem rather well behaved from ground level, but roofs, especially when you have flat ones that can be used as in Barcelona, allow a more individual expression (as in cemeteries, you can express yourself through architecture usually with more freedom).

What do barceloneses say from their penthouses? Some have created gardens/forests, some hotels have established their own paradises with swimming pool to enjoy tapas o drinks (not during winter…) and there are many traditional rooftop clotheslines. Those willing (and able) make a statement with towers or domes of any kind.

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Barcelona (19)The charms

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Open since September 25, 2013, the Mercat dels Encants tries to do with Barcelona’s flea market what Haussmann did at Les Halles with the Paris market: put a large umbrella (here reflecting and golden) over all the stalls. The solution given by architects here (B720- Fermín Vazquez) seems to be a success. It is by the Stapler, on the Plaza de las Glorias, and the Tapas stalls on the upper part are a success.

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