MACBA
Richard Meier · Barcelona, Spain · 1995
Richard Meier's MACBA places a bright, largely white museum volume beside the tight streets of El Raval. Opened in 1995, the building uses ramps, glazed circulation and strong geometric forms to establish a clear relationship between galleries and the public square. The contrast between solid exhibition spaces and transparent routes is central to the architectural experience. Outside, the Plaça dels Àngels has developed its own lively patterns of use, including skateboarding. Consider the museum together with this urban foreground, where a major cultural project becomes part of a dense residential neighbourhood. Visiting: Museum exhibitions are normally ticketed. The plaza is freely accessible.