BARCELOVERS
The magazine inspired by a captivating city
Tomorrow’s healthcare
The transformation of the healthcare sector
The creative beat
Poblenou, the avant-garde epicentre for artists
Club culture
Sport in an unparalleled setting
Line Up
Barcelona drops down to the sea from the gentle contours of a mountain. It is a dynamic city, bursting with action and life. There is no let-up in this action during the summer and it remains a welcoming city full of drive, rooted in a way of life that combines initiative, enthusiasm and wellbeing.
In these pages you can read about the people and stories that demonstrate this character. There is time and space to ponder both locally and globally what the healthcare of the future will be like, as explained by this edition’s lead article; to find out about major cultural events; to look into the latest technological possibilities; to discover new ways of taking advantage of the community-driven potential of the city’s different neighbourhoods, and more. Barcelona always has one foot in the past and another firmly in the future, while creating a present for its citizens with windows wide open to the world.
We welcome you to Barcelona and invite you to discover all of the facets that make our city such an inspiration.
Barcelovers
PUBLISHED BY Barcelona City Council
PUBLISHING BOARD Jaume Ciurana,
Jordi Martí i Galbis, Marc Puig, Miquel Guiot, Jordi Joly, Vicent Guallart, Àngel Miret, Marta Clari, Albert Ortas, Josep Lluís Alay, José Pérez Freijo, Pilar Roca
EDITORIAL BOARD Marc Puig, Rosa
Romà, Elisabet Garcia, Joan León, Enric Rimbau, Marta Passola
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joan León
CONTRIBUTORS Borja Barbesà, Teresa
Bau, Txell Bonet, Tomàs Fuentes, Helena Martínez Guimet, Júlia Rubert, Núria Peláez, Irene Pujadas, Jonàs Sensós, Josep Sucarrats, Raül Torán, Oliver Villanueva
PUBLISHER Edicions Clariana SL
DESIGN AND LAYOUT Lamosca
FRONT COVER Roger Llonch
PHOTOGRAPHY Txema Salvans, director.
Oriol Rigat, Xavier Cervera
ILLUSTRATIONS Blanca Miró, Lamosca
MAIN FONTS Bulo and Trola, by Jordi
Embodas
TRANSLATION AND PROOFREADING
Laura Álvarez, Néstor Bogajo, Stuart McLauchlan, Kelly Shimmin
ADVERTISING Primer Segona
PRE-PRINTING Xavier Parejo
PRINTER Direcció d’Imatge i Serveis
Editorials
PAPER 100% recycled
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ADVERTISING BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, THE CATALAN ASSOCIATION OF ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS AGENTS AND THE BARCELONA HOTEL ASSOCIATION
LEGAL DEPOSIT B. 19.129 - 2013 ISSN 2339-8396
meet.barcelona.cat/barceloversmag
Wake Up
Practical information, curiosities and tips
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WHAT’S UP
The transformation of the Plaça de les Glòries heads up a round-up of recent news relevant to the city
TOMORROW’S HEALTHCARE
Scientific advances and new technologies are redefining the traditional paradigm of the medical sector
TOWARDS COLLABORATIVE MEDICINE Interview with Jorge Juan Fernández, director of e-Health and Health 2.0 at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital
TREATING THE FUTURE
Some of the most relevant biomedical projects being led by public and private research centres in Barcelona
LEARNING TO BE ENTERPRISING D·Health Barcelona, an innovative educational programme to train future healthcare professionals
HEALTH TERMINALS
The future of healthcare is in mobile technology
BARCELOVERS
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PROFILES
Four Barcelovers who excel in their fields through talent and hard work
THE CREATIVE BEAT
The Poblenou district, an emblem of Barcelona’s industrial past, has become its avant-garde artistic and creative epicentre
THE WORLD FROM ABOVE
Drones: what potential benefits and threats does this technology offer?
IT’S VERMOUTH TIME!
The traditional ritual of a Sunday lunchtime aperitif is once again in fashion
FROM UP ON HIGH
The Castle of Montjuïc, the rehabilitation of a privileged spot
MANUFACTURING DESIGN Five examples of industrial design conceived in Barcelona with a worldwide reach
COLLECTION PIECES
Collectors from all over the world will be gathering in the Catalan capital for the first edition of Barcelona Gallery Weekend
THRILLS ON LAND, SEA AND AIR
A variety of adventure sports possibilities less than two hours from Barcelona
EXPLAINING A NEW COUNTRY In recent years, the celebration of the Catalan National Day has become a focus for political demands
Report
Club culture. Located on the seafront, the Club Natació Barcelona and the Club Natació Atlètic – Barceloneta are part of the city’s living history
Line Up
Different areas for practising sport and a huge open-air space are the first tangible results of the in-depth renovation of this iconic location. The project has injected new life, uses and services into a huge and vibrant public space while completing the definitive
transformation of the plaza, planned to finish in 2017, with the construction of tunnels for vehicle access into and out of
Barcelona.
Plaça de les Glòries,
a new space for the city
Researchers at IrsiCaixa, the foundation based in the Trias i Pujol Hospital, have managed to completely eradicate HIV from an infected patient who was also suffering from lymphoma. Stem cells from an umbilical cord chosen from among thousands were transplanted into the patient to cause a mutation to encourage what could technically be regarded as a cure. This case is part of the clinical trials being carried out with other patients by the international consortium Epistem, led by IrsiCaixa, in which the Catalan Institute of Oncology is also involved.
A survey by international
consultancy company EY
indicates that the city is
still among the preferred
destinations for foreign
investment and puts the
Catalan capital eighth
on the ranking of most
attractive European city
for investors in 2015.
This new facility, affiliated to the Museum of theHistory of Barcelona, is housed in Poblenou’s Central Park, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. It provides the link between the evolution of the cityscape over the years and its potential in the future. Entrance is free of charge.
In the Coll neighbourhood in the district of Gràcia, the highest wooden building in the city has just been built. The building boasts energy classification A, representing a cost of around 62 euros per month for central heating and hot water. The only bricks used inside the house are for the column housing the elevator.
ANOTHER TRIUMPH FOR CATALAN CUISINE
The role of Catalonia and Barcelona as the global benchmarks for avant-garde and
innovative cuisine have received fresh recognition with the return of El Celler de Can
Roca in Girona to the top spot as the world’s best restaurant, according to British
publication ‘Restaurant Magazine’. At the same gala event, Albert Adrià, Ferran Adrià’s
younger brother, picked up the trophy for best pastry chef of the year.
Eradication of the AIDS virus
from an infected patient
The former Oliva Artés
factory, a museum of the
city’s past and future
A five-storey wooden house
RESEARCH
BUSINESS
GASTRONOMY
URBAN PLANNING
ARCHITECTURE
What’s Up
BARCELONA GIRONA
OFFICIAL DEGREES – MASTER & POSTGRADUATE – SUMMER SCHOOL – STUDY ABROAD
ELISAVA
DESIGN &
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
ENGINEERING
STRATEGY
MANAGEMENT
ARCHITECTURE
SPACE
PRODUCT
GRAPHIC
COMMUNICATION
DESIGN
FOR FOOD
INTERACTION
DESIGN
Curation
As in many areas of society, technology is redefining the traditional paradigm of
the medical sector and opening up new horizons of expectation to the general
public and healthcare professionals alike. It is a constantly changing world with
even more changes due over the coming decades. Barcelona, due to its sphere
of influence, has emerged as an ideal base from which to redefine the future
of healthcare and its multiple ramifications. Amongst the many initiatives
embarked upon is a rethink of the relationship between healthcare professionals,
patients and institutions; participation in cutting-edge research projects;
in-depth studies into the possibilities of new educational programmes; and
taking advantage of being the mobile world capital to maximise the potential of
portable devices relevant to the healthcare sector
TOMORROW’S HEALTHCARE
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TOWARDS COLLABORATIVE
MEDICINE
Text Núria Peláez
Photos lo-Peix
Previously, doctors ordered and patients obeyed. Today, it
is increasingly common for them to take joint decisions.
New technologies are posing major challenges for the
health sector: patients want to see the transformations
that already exist in other sectors – such as shopping and
electronic banking – while part of the medical community
looks at these changes with scepticism. We talked about this
transformation with
Jorge Juan Fernández, an expert in
digital health and director of e-Health and Health 2.0 at
the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital
. This paediatric hospital,
one of the five most prestigious in Europe, is already using
tools that in a few years’ time could be a regular feature of
our healthcare systems
HAS THE ‘LIFELONG GP’ DISAPPEARED?
Traditionally the healthcare model has been a paternalistic system: doctors were in sole charge. Only they had the knowledge: the patient came to the surgery, listened to his or her advice and could do little more than obey it. Even when there were technologies that allowed diagnostic tests or clinical records to be digitalized, everything was confined to the hospital environment.
WHAT WAS THE TURNING POINT FOR THE CHANGE IN MODEL? In the 1990s the internet came to the fore and with this innovation certain information on health became available on the web, but the real emergence of what today we call digital health kicked off with the ability of patients themselves to create content and share their experiences of disorders and healthcare, mainly on blogs and later on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. It was at that time – around 2005 – that we started talking about participative medicine.
WHAT DOES PARTICIPATIVE MEDICINE INVOLVE?
People often think that the big innovation engendered by new healthcare technologies is the level of interaction between patients and medical professionals, but in truth this has always existed. The real transformation is the relationship between patients: sharing knowledge and their own experiences. This new relationship has transformed patients but also offers benefits to doctors if they know how to take advantage of it: medical professionals can now obtain information not only on their own patients but can also learn from all the other patients in the world who share content relating to their specialist area.
Jorge Juan Fernández, director of e-Health and Health 2.0 at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital
“In fifty years, our doctors will be calling
us to tell us that we might be sick”
DOES THIS CHANGE STEM FROM DEMANDS BY PATIENTS?
The general public wants to see the same kinds of transformations in the healthcare sector that they are seeing in other sectors of the economy. In the same way that many people now shop on the internet and never enter a bank branch, nowadays it shouldn’t be necessary for a patient to take a plane trip hundreds of kilometres away just to attend a hospital check-up where all they might say is that everything is fine. But technology on its own is still not enough – it has to go hand-in-hand with medical professionals.
NOT ALL DOCTORS ARE QUITE SO KEEN ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES... Doctors complain that technology is distancing their patients. Previously, when you visited the surgery the doctor could examine you and devote time to personal interaction; now, the specialist has to dedicate a considerable amount of the visiting time to filling in details on your clinical record and talking to you while looking at the screen. This means that many patients would rather go to a pharmacy where there is a more customer-oriented attitude.
SOME DOCTORS FEEL THAT PATIENTS TRUST THE INTERNET TOO MUCH.
The other big criticism from doctors about new technologies is that some patients come to the surgery after reading all kind of information on Google, assuming they are on the verge of death. And yet good information is positive for the patient: so in the same way that a doctor prescribes medicines, they should also prescribe information. Patients need to be made jointly responsible: patients are the CEOs of their own health. Many major health problems today are not due to the absence of scientific knowledge but to lack of information.
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BEFORE, THE DOCTOR WAS IN CHARGE… IS IT THE PATIENT’S TURN NOW?
Rather than the model of participative medicine which appears to put the patient in charge of everything, we need to move forward towards a model of collaborative medicine: depending on the disease or disorder in question, the leadership role can be taken either by the doctor – such as in oncology – or by the patient, in the case of chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes.
ARE NEW GENERATIONS OF DOCTORS WORKING DIFFERENTLY NOW?
An example of the use of technology in the health sector is paediatric simulation, which has entailed a huge change in the training of clinical staff in this specialist area. In the same way that an airline pilot has to put in a considerable number of flying hours before piloting commercial aircraft, at centres such as the Boston Children’s Hospital the doctors and nurses can now practice with mannequins before treating real children. In 2001 the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital opened the Advanced Medical Simulation Centre to train our healthcare professionals in a different way to help them work differently.
FIFTY YEARS FROM NOW… WILL VISITS TO THE DOCTOR BE OBSOLETE?
Fifty years from now we won’t be going to the doctor’s surgery to tell him we have a problem: the doctor himself will call us to ask us to go and see him because there’s something wrong. They will have all our data to hand and will be able to predict things before they come to pass. At the moment, we don’t know we’re having a heart attack until the actual moment we experience it, but the healthcare professionals of today already have information on us which could help them to predict whether we are likely to suffer an attack in the future.
THE LIQUID HOSPITAL
The Liquid Hospital programme provides care for patients outside the hospital itself
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TREATING THE FUTURE
VISUALIZING NUCLEOSOMES
A group of scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) at the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) and the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) has managed for the first time to visualize nucleosomes, the tiny, basic unit of DNA packaging. This study, published in the journal Cell, was made possible thanks to the use of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy, a state-of-the-art optical technique that was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2014.
The researchers, who have managed to define the architecture of the genome on a nanometric scale thanks to the combination of quantitative and numerical approaches, found that nucleosomes are organized in irregular groups along the chromatin and that there are areas of DNA that separate these groups. During the study, in which biologists and physicists collaborated, the STORM technique was used which is a new form of super-resolution microscopy that managed to bypass the diffraction limit that usually restricts the spatial resolution of conventional microscopes.
THE ALBA SYNCHROTRON PROVES THE EFFICACY OF AN ANTI-MALARIA DRUG
An example of the international collaboration of Catalan research centres is the case of the researchers at the Chemical Medical Institute (IQM-CSIC), the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – BioTech (UPC) and the University of Glasgow, who have shown that the drug CD27, synthesized by the IQM-CSIC researchers, offers an alternative for treating malaria. In doing so, the researchers analysed the crystalline structure of DNA with the CD27 based on X-ray diffraction experiments in the ALBA Synchrotron. The study has been published in the scientific journal Acta Crystallographica D.
The ALBA Synchrotron is a particle accelerator that works like a giant microscope for discovering the secrets of atoms and molecules, and since 2009 it has been providing services for researchers and high-tech companies alike.
Based on the ALBA Synchrotron study of the 3D image of the crystalline structure of a DNA complex and this drug, the group of researchers has demonstrated what could be a treatment option for malaria.
ALBA is a particle accelerator used for research and technology companies The Biomedical Research Park in Barcelona is one of the biggest scientific infrastructures in southern Europe dedicated to biomedicine
All research involves an increasing number of institutions, professionals and equipment
In the last few decades, advances in scientific knowledge
have intensified significantly thanks partly to a process of
cooperation. Any kind of research these days entails an
ever-larger number of teams, institutions, disciplines and countries.
Because of this, it is increasingly easy to imagine new solutions
to former challenges in the healthcare field. Looking over
some of the
most important biomedicine
projects being
undertaken in Barcelona’s public and private research centres
gives us an idea of their potential contribution to scientific
knowledge in the future
Text Raül Torán
NEW TREATMENT STRATEGY FOR EPILEPSY
Catalan companies, universities and research centres boast a long-standing tradition of participation in European projects. An example of this is the Extracellular Matrix in Epileptogenesis project (Ecmed) whose goal is to design, validate and put into clinical practice new treatment strategies for moving forward in a completely innovative approach to diagnosing and treating epilepsy. The project has a budget of 3.5 million euros and is co-financed by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme with a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowship. The biotechnology company Iproteos, a spin-off of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Centre and the University of Barcelona, based in the Barcelona Science Park, is the only local partner in the consortium.
The Ecmed project, which is expected to last three years, will be rolled out by a public-private consortium made up of nine public entities and two biotechnology companies from various European countries with complementary skills combining academic knowledge, basic and applied research, clinical practice and biotechnology.
NEW HOPE FOR HEREDITARY DISEASES
Another example of collaboration between Catalan and international research centres is the study published recently in the journal Cell. Researchers at the Hospital Clinic, the Agustí Pi i Sunyer Institute of Biomedical Research (Idibaps), the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital and the Catalan Institute of Bioengineering (IBEC) have taken part in a study led by Dr Juan Carlos Izpisúa-Belmonte, a professor in the Gene Expression Laboratory of the Salk Institute in La Jolla (California) that uses molecular ‘scissors’ to remove mitochondrial mutations in mouse eggs.
In the study, researchers developed a simple technique to eliminate mitochondrial mutations in eggs or embryos at an early stage of development, with the potential of preventing offspring from inheriting mitochondrial diseases. This technology offers new hope for carriers of mitochondrial pathologies who want to have children free of the disease and represents a great step forward as there is currently no treatment available for mitochondrial diseases.
DISCOVERY OF A SIXTH DNA BASE?
It is known that DNA comprises a combination of four nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine). In the early 1980s, a fifth DNA base was added: methylcytosine, derived from cytosine. Recently, Manel Esteller, director of the Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC) of the Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (Idibell), Icrea researcher and genetics professor at the University of Barcelona, has led an investigation, published in Cell, which indicates the possible existence of a sixth DNA base, methyladenine which, like methylcytosine, would help to determine the epigenome, thus having a crucial impact on cell life. This new base has been found in certain flies and worms. The researchers now face the challenge of discovering this sixth DNA base in mammals and studying what functions it performs.
SUPERCOMPUTING, OR PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
The Barcelona Supercomputing Center – National Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) is a unique facility that recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. The BSC-CNS is also a research centre and has hosted more than 3,000 different projects which have enabled scientists to move forward in different areas such as computing, engineering and health. Thanks to the MareNostrum supercomputer, we can predict the air quality in cities three days in advance, calculate how city driving affects pollution, and develop new computational models to easily and accurately identify the genetic mutations responsible for the appearance and progression of tumours in a matter of hours. This last example represents a firm and realistic step towards the horizon of personalized medicine, in which the genetic analysis of each patient will help to diagnose and then select the most efficient and least aggressive
treatment for them. The MareNostrum computer at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – National
Supercomputing Center is housed inside a former chapel
The Barcelona Science Park, where more than 2,000 people work, is an international benchmark for fostering innovation The InnoLife project, headed up by the University
of Barcelona, won the Call for Knowledge and Innovation Communities in December 2014 organized by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, which focuses on improving quality of life and healthcare systems. InnoLife, which will be based in the Barcelona Science Park, is a consortium of 144 companies, universities and research centres from 14 European countries and will fund projects on innovation and educational in the field of healthcare.
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The innovation revolution in the health sector also includes
training future healthcare professionals. The new generation of
healthcare innovators is no longer educated only in classrooms
but also in surgeries and emergency rooms. Barcelona is home
to one of only four biodesign syllabuses in Europe, inspired
by the Stanford University:
d·Health Barcelona
. Its students
learn how to be enterprising while identifying business ideas in
the city’s leading healthcare centres
In 2001, Stanford University created the first biodesign programme, a unique and innovative methodology whereby students experience a process of clinical immersion in hospitals to identify in situ needs that are not being met in order to design new products or services which will continue to be developed throughout the course. As a result of this methodology’s success, Stanford has exported it to other countries. In Europe there are only four syllabuses in this discipline: Dublin (Ireland), Aarhus (Denmark), Stockholm (Sweden) and Barcelona, the postgraduate Design Health Barcelona (d·Health Barcelona), organized by Biocat, which in January 2016 will be embarking on its third edition.
STANFORD ADAPTED TO BARCELONA
Classified by Health Startup Europe as “probably the best healthcare innovation accelerator in Europe”, d·Health Barcelona is a full-time, nine month postgraduate programme, but with a very different methodology to that of the vast majority of higher education in the city. Students experience a complete cycle of innovation, from identifying needs in hospitals through to designing a viable solution and researching its financing. During the process they acquire knowledge in medicine and business development, and skills in areas such as ‘design thinking’ and creative leadership through classes and workshops given by over 50 international experts from Stanford, Kaos Pilot – the ground-breaking Danish educational centre – and MIT, amongst others.
In contrast to other European biodesign programmes based on replicating the Stanford system 100%, the Barcelona programme has adapted to its particular milieu and promotes the development of personal skills in its students. d·Health Barcelona students are divided into multidisciplinary teams of four people with qualifications in medicine, engineering, business and design. After an initial training period, each team works for two months in one of the leading hospitals in Barcelona: Hospital Clinic (regarded as one of the top three general hospitals in Europe), Sant Joan de Déu hospital (among the top five European paediatric centres), or the Guttmann Institute (one of Europe’s top three neuro-rehabilitation centres). Shadowing medical professionals and patients, the students take note of any needs that are not being addressed which could be turned into new products or services; during the first edition of the programme, more than 2,000 needs were identified.
D·Health Barcelona promotes skills training in students
LEARNING TO BE ENTERPRISING
FROM ‘BARCELOVER’ SKATER TO BUSINESSMAN
German microbiologist Dr Markus Wilhelms, a big skateboarding fan, came to Barcelona to pursue his doctorate degree as well as being attracted by one of the internationally-renowned venues for skateboarding: the Macba square. However, the inspiration that changed his life came through the d·Health Barcelona programme. As a student on the programme, Wilhelms spent two intensive months of full immersion at the Guttmann Institute, where most of the patients get around in wheelchairs. He and his team members Marc Benet, Àngel Calzada and Dr Immaculada Herrero managed to identify a total of 600 needs. “We decided to focus on chronic constipation, a problem that has a huge impact on the quality of life of patients with neurological disorders,” he explains.
On finishing the programme, the team founded their own company, usMIMA, which has completed its first round of seed capital and this year will be launching a device – similar to a belt – which simulates a colon massage to alleviate chronic constipation in patients with spinal injuries and multiple sclerosis. The company won the most recent edition of the BioEntrepreneur XXI award, a benchmark in the field of the creation of life sciences companies.
Another team of d·Health Barcelona students, who are already working on their business project, is Catalan native Arnau Valls and American Susan Feitoza. After two months of immersion at the Sant Joan de Déu hospital they decided to develop a medical device for patients in neonatal and paediatric intensive care units. “Although I studied communications engineering, I always wanted to use my training in the healthcare sector: developing practical solutions for people’s problems is extremely rewarding,” notes Valls. They expect to set up their project, known as Kocoon, as a company later this year.
Text Núria Peláez
Photos lo-Peix
With our mobiles we can pay in shops, buy an airline ticket,
book a table in a restaurant… but one of the most promising
fields of the future is health. Known as
mHealth, or mobile
health
, mobile devices will become a platform for accessing
information, contacting healthcare professionals and
gathering data on the population. Mobile health will increase
access to services and provide patients and consumers with
tools that give them greater independence in managing their
health
Doctors, patients, scientists and technicians are working together towards a single objective: to improve people’s health. Technology is just the tool to get there. In Barcelona, the world’s mobile capital, a series of factors combine to position the city as one of the most powerful European clusters in this respect. According to Joan Cornet, the director of the mHealth Competence Center of the Mobile World Capital Foundation, “we have an extremely high level of healthcare services and medical professionals, top-level research organizations and innovative technology companies.”
It is estimated that there are around 100,000 mobile apps related to health, though not all of them have the desired quality. For this reason, stakeholders in the sector are calling for strict regulations to protect users from risks and to give a definitive boost to this market. Here are a few examples of apps created in Barcelona that perfectly illustrate the potential of mobile technology in the healthcare sector.
HEALTH TERMINALS
Text Teresa Bau
ICOR
The hospital sector is also behind mobile health initiatives in Barcelona. The Hospital de Sant Pau and the Hospital del Mar are two centres that are monitoring some of their patients with these technologies. Two years ago, in collaboration with Telefónica, the Hospital del Mar launched the iCor project which monitors patients with heart failure by mobile devices and encourages the patient’s involvement in his/her health care. Patients need to take their blood pressure and weigh themselves every day and enter the data in their tablet to keep the doctor updated. Every two weeks, the doctor and patient have a chat by videoconferencing. Cristina Enjuanes, Cardiology assistant at the hospital, explains that iCor has reduced readmissions of these patients by 30%. Carmen Lizarraga de Andrés, the wife of a patient on the programme, believes “this is a wonderful invention. It’s like having a doctor at home.”
SOCIAL DIABETES
The key to the success of Social Diabetes, according to its founder Victor Bautista, is always putting the patient first: “We want the patient to be better monitored and consequently happier.” Bautista, a computer engineer with Type 1 diabetes, created the app because he couldn’t find anything else to help him. It will soon be integrated in Fitbit devices, Google Fit and smartwatches Android Wear and Apple Watch. Since its launch in 2012 it has racked up 90,000 downloads and is translated into 10 languages, the most recent addition being Arabic. HEART TRANSPLANTS
The Hospital de Sant Pau has just launched a pioneering project to monitor heart transplants via mobile devices. The aim is to help transplant recipients adhere to their complicated
pharmacological treatment programme to ensure the body does not reject the new heart. The app is a kind of electronic logbook where patients receive reminders about their medication and enter their state of heath on a daily basis. Mar Gomis, the clinical pharmacist heading up the project, says that “even though we’re at the study phase, I believe the tool has huge potential. Patients are much more involved in their treatment and it allows medical professionals to intervene more rapidly if they notice any problems.”
DOCTORALIA
The Doctoralia app lets you find a medical specialist, arrange an appointment and get medical advice free of charge. And all on your mobile. The company is currently operating in 21 countries, has 11 million monthly users and the app has been downloaded more than 600,000 times. It is the only Spanish app to feature in the British National Health Service app library. Frederic Llordachs, the company’s CEO, notes that mobile devices have allowed “a huge leap forward” by giving users permanent internet access: “Arranging an appointment by mobile is much more common than doctors think. In health terms, users are well ahead of medical professionals,” he claims. UNIVERSAL DOCTOR
YAGO HORTAL
Painter
“You need to look at paintings the way you listen to music” is the answer of this Barcelonan painter, born in 1983, when asked to explain his paintings. A style that some have christened ‘new abstract expressionism’ is actually extremely specific rather than apparently figurative. His paintings, with volumes which suggest ice-cream sculptures, and brushstrokes of vibrant
colours, full of textures and “deliberate interesting accidents” have made his work both identifiable and appealing, to the point that he has taken imitators to court more than once, leading him to maintain a certain level of secrecy over his working methods. He is extremely prolific, starting several canvases at the same time, stacked on the floor of his studio in the neighbourhood of Sant Pere, where he paints for hours and hours at a time. “I don’t notice much difference from when I was living in Berlin, but I’ve got more space here as well as my own gallery.” In fact, he will be exhibiting in early 2016 in this new space at Senda (Trafalgar,
32) after receiving requests from collectors worldwide from his website yagohortal.com.
LUCILA BAIARDI
Confectioner and ice-cream maker
“I was looking for my place in the world, a city I could call my own, and when I visited Barcelona I knew this was the one. As far as I’m concerned, it’s got everything.” A confectioner
with 25 years of experience, born in Buenos Aires, trained in France and with stints in Australia and Uruguay, in 2009 she received an offer to create recipes for products for the business now known as Vioko, setting up an ice-cream parlour and chocolate shop in
Barceloneta (Passeig Joan de Borbó, 55). In 2014 she opened another outlet in the Born (Sombrerers, 1). “We’re now thinking about doing a worldwide franchise. We currently produce exclusive products for Selfridges in London from our workshop in Barcelona.” Her creamy Argentinian-style ice-creams come in almost 40 flavours including grapefruit, jasmine and violet, made with French flower essences. Her macaroons and chocolates are also
unmistakeable with their jewel-like brilliant patina with some even covered in edible 22-carat gold leaf infused with essence of Chanel No. 5. The power of imagination!
PROFILES
Text Txell Bonet
LUC STEELS
Researcher
What got this linguist involved in evolutionary biology and artificial intelligence? “The way language originated is a mystery. Yet it’s a living system. Evolutionary biology studies the origins of life which provides a much broader source of inspiration and ideas than simple linguistics.” After a period of studying in Brussels and at the MIT and working in Sony’s Laboratory of Computational Science where he taught the robot dog Aibo to speak, in 2011 he
became a lecturer at the Catalan Institute of Research and Advanced Studies at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona. “The building is just across from the beach, which is
associated with a certain type of city lifestyle, but few people realise that this is one of the most important research centres in the world. I’m still surprised myself at the high level.” Connected to other institutions around the world, Steels feels that he works in a huge virtual
laboratory. With the curiosity of a child and a passion for music, he has also composed on opera about robots which was premiered at the Palau de la Musica Catalana.
MARIA COMPANY
Manager of Strategic Business at HP
“In professional terms, I feel very fulfilled; my work has a big impact on my personal life. At Hewlett-Packard it’s not about how many hours you work – we work towards targets and the whole team is really motivated. The key to success is that every work activity dovetails perfectly with certain skills.” This Catalan native works at the US company’s head office on the
outskirts of Barcelona (Sant Cugat) after having spent almost a decade at its HQ in California. Financial analysis, strategic marketing, management… all leading towards her current position
as manager of Strategic Business in the 3D printing division, with global responsibilities. Indeed, Catalonia is the base of the biggest R&D centre for wide-format 3D printing, which many people are calling the new industrial revolution. “Our goal is to change the process of innovation, which is set to transform the industrial sector in the future.” At the facility some 2,300 people are engaged in studying how to improve the speed and quality of this technology,
Text Helena Martínez Guimet
Photos Priscila Landa and Albert Manau
Poblenou, a neighbourhood with bags of character right by the sea and an emblem of Barcelona’s
industrial past, has become the epicentre of avant-garde art and creativity. Standing alongside modern
buildings with cutting-edge architecture, old and abandoned factories are being transformed into
workshops and art spaces or the headquarters of innovative companies. The Poblenou Urban District
Association is playing a key role in this process of transformation, taking its cue from the Wynwood
Arts District in Miami and the Meatpacking District in New York
When, in 2011, Claudia Costa opened La Plataforma, an old printing works now transformed into a co-working space and gallery, she had a lot of problems in publicising her project in Poblenou, a seaside neighbourhood with an industrial past which was then fully immersed in a process of social, business and architectural regeneration. This led her to dream up the Corner Festival, an event for promoting the district’s artists, during which she met several top-level professionals who up to that point had been working behind closed doors.
In just three years, the Poblenou Urban
District association has grown from eight
to more than 150 members
| 29 28 |
The association disseminates the dynamic
and innovative character of a district whose
heart is beating with renewed energy
The truth is that one of the main keys to its expansion has been this organization, which has managed not only to publicize the different spaces, artists and creative entrepreneurs but also to create a collaborative network among the existing projects and platforms. “People who appeared on the map started making professional contacts in the area which sparked off new initiatives,” recalls Claudia with excitement. The Association thus disseminates the dynamic and innovative character of a district whose heart is beating with renewed energy, and encompasses a wide variety of entities such as the creative factory La Escocesa, housed in a former textile factory and home to several audio-visual artists which, as its director Kike Vela points out, has witnessed how the association has “pulled everyone together and brought increased exposure, through its activities and actions, to a whole group of creatives and spaces which otherwise would not be nearly as visible.”
The award-wining publicist David Ruiz, a veteran member and creator of the Poblenou Urban District logo, arrived in the district nine years ago in search of open-plan spaces in former factories at reasonable prices. During this time he has witnessed how more and more creatives and artists have been moving to Poblenou, and acknowledges that the association is managing to “officialise what is taking place here in a natural and spontaneous way”, and that “it has helped to promote us and bring us closer together.” This impression is shared by Roberto Vázquez from Indissoluble, a cutting-edge company in the production and design of exhibition spaces which executes projects from their conception through to prototyping and production. They set up in Poblenou one year ago, since when they have witnessed how the area is continuing to evolve with the arrival of all sorts of other creative and innovative enterprises. Vázquez believes that the main virtue of the Poblenou Urban District association is its capacity as a catalyst, taking action and facilitating connections between “people from different disciplines, which helps to weave together a real sense of association.”
THE PLACE TO BE
However, the activities organized by Claudia and Glòria did not stop there, and in addition to the map in order to support the different ideas of association members and their one-off actions, two years ago an Open Doors Day was organized for the association’s different spaces which by 2014 had managed to reach 80 venues, with an evening version at Christmas. There are also guided tours on foot to discover these creative spaces; the open-air Open Cinema & Concerts and the future Urban District Festival which will be a huge weekend event based around multidisciplinary contemporary creation, both local and international. The fact is that this Poblenou of the 21st century is starting to become known off the city map: “The new creatives who set up here make contact with us immediately, and some of them have heard of us even before they get here.” Their fame has crossed the oceans and has resulted in them being partly involved in “serving as ambassadors to other districts and cities” with initiatives such as Monkeytown, a video-art and gastronomic project originating in New York which has decided to make a stop at the headquarters of Utopia 126, a production company in one of the old factories. Right alongside it are various association members, from the BAU design centres to the FabLab, the award-winning sustainable hostel Tuentitú, the record shop Ultra-Local Records, The Folio Club and the abovementioned Indissoluble, David Ruiz’s studio and La Escocesa.
_MG_6824okbOK.tif
A COMMITTED NEIGHBOURHOOD
An important factor in the expansion of Poblenou Urban District has been the local community, one of the most vibrant in the city with a strong sense of community spirit. “The collaboration between us is just fantastic, the whole fusion between the industrial, creative and commercial sectors,” says Claudia. In the future, the idea is that this active associative dynamic will continue to attract creatives, professionals and residents who will move as one towards the convergence of a district that is turning itself around and is well on the way to becoming the creative driving force of the city.
The activities of the Poblenou Urban District showcase a group of creators and creative spaces
Text Oliver Villanueva
Google and Facebook have shown an interest in getting into the market. Amazon is looking at
including them as a delivery device. GoPro is planning to launch its own line on the market for general
retail. Known popularly as ‘drones’, these UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) are the latest trend. A study
by the Teal Group estimates that within a decade the turnover of the UAV market will grow from the
current figure of 6,400 million dollars to around 11,500 million. But what is behind this sudden boom?
What risks are involved and what new opportunities does this technology open up?
“Drones can get to places that humans can’t,” says Pepa Sedó, the Intelligent Systems Department Manager of the Ascamm Foundation. “The first use of unmanned aerial vehicles was as missile-carriers,” she continues. “Today, this technology is being made available to the civilian world, and we’re discovering that it offers numerous possibilities. It’s a similar situation to that of GPS.” But there are also risks. Xavier Alba, from Hemav, mentions the example of a drone that got “within one metre” of German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a public event, or the drones that were spotted overflying several strategic spots in Paris (the Eiffel Tower and the US Embassy) last February. “In a context of high terrorist alert, there need to be very strict controls in place.”
Above and beyond any contentious issues, this technology can provide solutions in a huge range of situations. Let’s take a look at some of the projects that are being developed in Barcelona in this field.
TO THE RESCUE: A SUPPORT IN MAJOR DISASTERS
DRONES IN URBAN AREAS: POTENTIAL HAZARDS
“A big business area is filming in cities but right now it’s not possible,” says David Viñas from DronAir, a company that uses drones for filming. “You’re allowed to set up a crane, but getting a permit to use a drone… forget it.” At the moment, in the absence of any specific regulations, Spanish law has put a total ban on using UAVs in urban areas. There have been accidents in the past, which doesn’t exactly help to foster a feeling of safety.
“People have the impression that a drone is a toy, and yes, some of them are, but others are not. If they’re not used responsibly, then legislators have to get serious,” says Alfonso Zamorro, the founder of Dea-Drones. His star project is a network of drones to assist in medical emergencies. “A drone fitted with a camera can get to an accident much earlier than humans and can help the doctor to make an initial examination.” This idea, developed as an end-of-degree project, won Zamarro and his team a place as finalists in the Smart City Congress as well as the Adecco Most Brilliant Young Idea award. Even so, Zamarro admits that the project is a long way from becoming a reality: it’s not just about overcoming legal restrictions but also technical obstacles. “A drone for civilian use that is used in agriculture, for example, is equipped to fly for 2 kilometres under the visual control of an operator. There is still not enough battery autonomy or control mechanisms for what we want to do, although the technology will arrive sooner or later.” Dea-Drones has also looked at expanding into other sectors such as logistics, but Zamarro notes that “there are security issues – the moment a drone lands on the ground, how can you guarantee that nobody will pick it up and run off with it?”
CHALLENGING SHOTS IN FILM SHOOTS
One of the fields where the possibilities of the drone have been most heavily exploited is film shoots. The early days, however, were very difficult, explains director Alberto Blanco: “The first time I used a drone, in 2011, was not a great experience. The camera didn’t produce the quality I was looking for and we had to stop shooting because the drone engine blew up.” Now, however, Blanco has used drones for several shoots, such as a series of adverts for Andorra Tourism and a promotional ad for Red Bull in which Barcelona footballer Neymar Jr is sitting next to French rally driver Sébastien Ogier on a rally around the hairpin bends of the mountain of Montserrat. “The technology has improved and with a good operator it’s a fantastic device. It lets you take shots that before we would have needed a helicopter for.” Even so, “it’s not easy to work with a drone. You need to really study what kind of speeds you can reach, how to do the turns, what the weather conditions are like.” This last point is particularly important. “Quite often, the drone operators are actually their owners. They’ve invested a lot of money and they’re not going to risk their device; if there’s a bit of wind, they won’t fly them.”
IMPROVING FARMING AND MONITORING ILLEGAL HUNTING Hemav, a company founded in 2012 whose head office is based at the European Space Agency business incubator in Castelldefels, has used drones on farms in what is known as ‘precision farming’: a drone can take pictures of the land (in the same way as a satellite, “but at a much lower level, and a much lower cost,” explains Xavi Alba) and also analyse the quality of the subsoil.
La PLata
In 1945, the Marjanet family opened this tiny bar at the heart of the Gothic Quarter and we could well say that since then they have not changed a single tile. It seems as if time has stopped at a moment of permanent bliss among these little tables, sipping vermouth while enjoying all kinds of deep-fried morsels – the best Andalusian traditions in Barcelona! – plus fresh sardines and conserves to whet the appetite. The story goes that everyone refers to it as the temple of tapas, and we love the fact that it is recognized for such simple but essential dishes as tomato and onion salad.
Mercè, 28 Tel. 93 315 10 09 www.barlaplata.com
Quimet i Quimet
This is one of the most long-standing taverns in the city, an absolute must if you want to discover the authentic Barcelona that
Poble-sec still exudes. No matter what time of day you go, you’ll find it packed with customers and a great buzz. It’s hardly surprising: it’s reputed to serve one of the best vermouths in the city and the list of accompanying tapas is never-ending. It’s almost obligatory to sample the ham and the anchovies, but just let the staff advise you. You’ll just need a sip before finding yourself infected with the joie de vivre that’s palpable just crossing the threshold.
Poeta Cabanyes, 25 Tel. 93 442 31 42
Text Josep Sucarrats
Illustrations Blanca miró
This custom may have been practised since time immemorial by their great-grandparents,
grandparents and parents, but young Barcelonans have turned the ceremony of the Sunday
pre-lunch aperitif into a real fashion. Long-standing establishments are being brought back to life
and new hip bars are being opened, yet all of them serve the same olives, crisps and anchovies
along with a glass of vermouth and a soda syphon. Tradition is the new trendy!
it’S VeRmOutH time!
BOdega 1900
If there is one neighbourhood that has really spearheaded the renaissance of the Barcelona vermouth habit, this is Sant Antoni, to the extent that chef Albert Adrià, brother of the ultra-famous Ferran, has opened his own vermuteria. The tiny premises boasts all the atmosphere of traditional establishments, with marble tables, bentwood chairs and cured hams hanging from the ceiling. The menu, however, features the most select products available on the market: tuna that melts in the mouth, ultra-fresh prawns and a few classics that were once on El Bulli’s menu… like the olives, which in this particular vermuteria are spherified!
Tamarit, 91 Tel. 93 325 26 59 www.bodega1900.com
eL mORRO Fi
The story behind this vermuteria is perhaps representative of the renaissance of this tradition in the city. Three friends set up a blog called El Morro Fi where they used to post the surviving bars where you could still experience a proper Barcelona aperitif. They got so caught up in the task that in the end they saw no other solution but to open their own vermuteria! They were inspired by their childhood memories of Sunday lunchtimes which they transformed into canned appetisers and measures of vermouth. Their idea was so successful that they now have four bars around the city.
Consell de Cent, 171 www.morrofi.cat
36 |
CaSa maRiOL
This is the only vermuteria in the city that can boast of serving its very own vermouth made by the Vaquer family. They have a winery in Terra Alta, a wine-making county in southern Catalonia. It was the idea of the youngest scion of the family to update the bottle and label of the vermouth they have been making all their lives. Thanks to this initiative, Mariol is now exported to countries as distant as Australia and Canada. But the tavern they run close to the Sagrada Familia is almost a replica of the bars in the family’s native village. With so much tradition aligned with modernity, it’s hardly surprising they’ve been featured in the Financial Times!
Rosselló, 442 Tel. 93 436 76 28 www.casamariol.com
Quimet d’HORta
At midday on Sundays, the terrace of this classic bar is mobbed with local residents taking their traditional vermouth. Yet it’s not just local residents: even though Horta is a fair distance from the city centre, the fame of this establishment has meant that it attracts Barcelonans and foreigners of all kinds, enamoured of their home-made croquettes and bombes – deep-fried mashed potato balls filled with meat – which connoisseurs claim are even better than those in the Barceloneta district, where this tapa is justly famous. This bar is ideal if you want to experience a vermouth among a clientele who has been practising the habit all their lives.
Pl. d’Eivissa, 10 Tel. 93 358 19 16 www.quimethorta.com
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Built during the 17th century, the Castle of Montjuïc occupies a
complex place in Barcelona’s collective imagination. Far from being perceived as a fortress for defence, for years it was seen as a symbol of repression, control and subjugation of the city. During the 19th
century alone, the city’s residents were bombed from the castle on three different occasions and in 1940 Lluis Companys, President of the Government of Catalonia, was shot by a firing squad at Franco’s orders, making him the only democratically-elected president in Europe to be executed.
It is this deplorable past that the permanent exhibition of the recently-opened Montjuïc Castle Interpretation Centre aims to commemorate to emphasise the patrimonial, historical and cultural importance of the monument. The opening of this centre represents another milestone in recovering and transforming a building that no longer has any military function into a space for promoting liberty and democracy.
From up on high, Montjuïc offers an exceptional look-out point over the city. This monument’s role in the history of Barcelona has endured countless changes and constant transformations that have left behind a legacy of assets that co-exist in harmony: the Olympic installations, cultural facilities, the Port, the Fira exhibition centre and one of the city’s most important green ‘lungs’.
Text Irene Pujadas
Photo Anna Molins
NEW TIMES, NEW USES: CINEMA, CIRCUS AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC Recognised as an Asset of National Cultural Interest, the long-term rehabilitation process planned by Barcelona’s City Council is seeking to improve the Castle’s infrastructure to make it an open space surrounded by gardens dedicated to leisure, culture and remembrance.
In this respect, for some years now the castle has hosted events with all sorts of content and formats. The summer months are especially lively as the Sala Montjuïc has been set up in one of the castle’s moats, a programme of open-air cinema that attracts 2,000 people at each screening. Its formula for success lies in the carefully-selected combination of modern and classic films, always shown in their original version, which can be enjoyed while the audience dines under the stars with the city at its feet.
Offering one of the most spectacular
panoramic views over the city, the
Castle of Montjuïc
is a privileged
spot for leisure and cultural pursuits
in a natural setting close to the city
centre. With a controversial history
in its still-recent past, the Castle has
since recovered its status as a heritage
monument and the ideal place to come
for a respite from city life
From early June to mid-July, Piknic Electronic takes place in the Joan Brossa Gardens next to the castle, an event that combines electronic music with a natural setting. And at the end of September, as part of the city’s programme of events in honour of its patron saint, La Mercè, the castle is filled with numerous free contemporary circus shows. Over three days, troupes from around the world put together a programme that showcases a variety of techniques and disciplines.
This series of initiatives, together with the exhibition facilities on the hillside and its ideal position for practising all kinds of sport, underline the potential of the area around the Castle of Montjuïc as a place that brings together the best of nature, leisure and the world of culture.
From up
on high
In a more or less poetic and figurative sense, daily life is an
adventure in itself. Work, perhaps a partner, maybe some
children, friendships, commitments… it’s worth every step
along the way but it’s not short on challenges. So learning
how to switch off, to have fun from time to time, is bound
to help. Tackling an adventure – a real one, but in a safe,
controlled way in beautiful natural surroundings that are
completely different from what your retinas are normally
used to – can be enormously rewarding. In this respect,
just a couple of hours from Barcelona you’ll find a huge
variety of top-level adventure options thanks to Catalonia’s
tremendous geographical diversity. Here is just a small
example of what’s on offer
Text Borja Barbesà
Photos Manuel Velázquez, SkyDive Empuriabrava and Mario Bea
CLIMBING IN SIURANA
Little by little the word has spread, and this little town in Tarragona province has confirmed its status as an almost essential point of pilgrimage for climbers of every level from all over the world. The most experienced climbers will find some truly exciting routes while more modest achievers will enjoy those that match their own particular level of expertise, and all of them will relish a setting that leaves you breathless with its beauty. At the easternmost end of the Montsant mountain range and the winemaking county of Priorat – to which a visit is highly recommended even without the excuse of the climbing – the town is perched on a cliff where, from on high, it dominates the reservoir of the same name. Nearby, other escarpments are replete with well-equipped routes whose limestone slopes provide an irresistible challenge to climbing enthusiasts.
Distance from Barcelona: 145 km Thrill factor: moderate
Technical difficulty: variable Level of physical demand: moderate
42 |
SKYDIVING IN EMPURIABRAVA
You’ve got to be bold, it’s true. Of these three activities, this is probably the one that calls for the most guts, but nobody who has tried it will ever forget the experience. The top European skydiving centre in terms of the number of jumps – and fighting hard with Arizona for world leadership status – this is the best possible place to make your first foray at 4,000 metres with an experienced instructor, known as a tandem jump. Obviously, those with more experience will also find all kinds of temptations, in terms of both the variety of disciplines (formation skydiving, freeflying, wingsuit flying, canopy piloting, skysurfing, etc.) and the stunning surroundings in which the jumps are made, at the heart of the Costa Brava where, from the sky, you can see the Bay of Roses, Cap de Creus and the easternmost end of the Pyrenees. Another incentive for visiting the area is the new indoor skydiving wind tunnel, a cutting-edge freefall simulator with no risk involved whatsoever.
Distance from Barcelona: 150 km Thrill factor: max
Technical difficulty: low, if jumping with an instructor Level of physical demand: low
PARAGLIDING IN MONTSEC
The Àger Valley, at the foot of the Montsec mountain range, has always exerted a kind of magnetic fascination. The famous Catalan writer Josep Pla wrote that it was a “remote and isolated paradise which enshrouds a divine peacefulness.” Obviously that was a good few decades ago and now only the positive part remains: it’s still an incredibly tranquil part of the world but advanced transport systems have made it much more accessible. This is a wonderful place to visit at ground level, but even more so from up in the air, emulating the numerous species of birds that inhabit the region. Tandem paragliding with an instructor is suitable for everyone, from kids to grannies, and the feeling of smooth, silent flying, of being surrounded by nothing more than air, is absolutely priceless. By using Àger as a base you can also try tandem hand-gliding or ply the waters of the fascinating Mont-rebei gorge in a kayak.
Distance from Barcelona: 175 km Thrill factor: high
Technical difficulty: low, if you team up with an instructor Level of physical demand: low
“The Gallery Weekend is a city-wide project that was instigated by the art galleries,” says Imma Mora, the manager of the initiative, given that the idea came from Art Barcelona, the city’s Association of Contemporary Art Galleries. These private art galleries are highly progressive spaces that open during the year to enrich the artistic offering of the city, showcasing contemporary artists and big names in the art world in a more focused setting than that of major art museums. The contribution they make to the city’s cultural scene is, on this occasion, being nurtured and supported by its public institutions.
A chance to get an up-close look at the
work of acclaimed artists sourced from
prestigious art centres around the world
During this long and dynamic weekend, a total of 21 galleries are joining forces to put on some highly attractive, top-level exhibitions. Visitors can pop in to any gallery they choose or follow one of four guided routes which also include institutions and museums, embracing a total of 40 different spaces as well as artists’ studios. This eclectic mixture showcases the city’s artistic heritage and the potential of these galleries on the collectors’ circuit.
Text Txell Bonet Photo Txema Salvans
Another demonstration of the dynamic nature of the city’s galleries is the fourth edition of the Talking Galleries Barcelona Symposium on 2 and 3 November in the MACBA Auditorium. This fascinating international congress brings together professionals involved in the world of contemporary art galleries to discuss everyday concerns, share knowledge and plan common strategies.
Talking Galleries
Barcelona Symposium
“Each gallery aims to invite three collectors and the organization will be offering two nights’ hotel accommodation. The people in question are regular visitors to art fairs and we believe they will feel both comfortable and motivated with this format, which is already working well in places like Berlin, Mexico City, Vienna and Paris. It provides the perfect setting for art lovers, it leads to new collectors and without a doubt it encourages quality tourism for the city,” explains Imma Mora enthusiastically, who has already set up links with other similar organisers.
The event is being held at the same time as Swab, the
Contemporary Art Fair which has established itself in Barcelona as a showcase for new emerging artists and also attracts collectors in this sector. The Gallery Weekend will become a kind of virtual fair, taking place in the galleries themselves, with a series of associated events, performances and installations in iconic spots around the city. These will include artists such as Dora García, Jordi Mitjà, Rasmus Nilausen, Pere Llobera, David Bestué and Daniel Steegman Mangrané, “a Catalan with a very high international profile who is currently living in Rio de Janeiro and will be setting up an audio installation on the Rio jungles in the Umbracle in Ciutadella Park.”
Barcelona Gallery Weekend
, from 1 to 4 October, is an initiative of the Catalan capital’s
art galleries. This brand new date on the international contemporary art calendar invites
collectors from around the world to an event featuring a host of artists, including big
names such as Dalí, Miró, Barceló and Calder
Text Júlia Rubert
Industrialization transformed cities, mass production and
the economy yet mechanized copies of unique pieces of
craftsmanship proved flawed and unsatisfactory. The new
era called for a new way of conceiving objects in which
aesthetics would not lose prominence; hence the birth
of industrial design. A long tradition of craftsmanship
and a versatile and active industrial base have made
Barcelona a reference point in this field. Today, the
task continues with the need to continue innovating
to face the challenges of tomorrow – sustainability,
internationalization, and customization. Here we present
five everyday products remodelled by leading Catalan
factories and exported from Barcelona all over the world
Roca’s proposal to put the washbasin and water closet together in one unit
FIGUERAS. BONAMUSA CHAIR
It might not seem so but we spend most of the day sat down, often ending up with aching kidneys, especially when seated in chairs designed for brief, occasional or outdoor use. Figueras manufactures a range of high-end chairs for interiors and exteriors. The woodwork firm founded in 1929 used to produce handmade benches and then ergonomically-designed cinema seats before starting to collaborate with external designers in the mid-1950s. One of the first of these was Antoni Bonamusa, and the chair that bears his name has become one of the firm’s star products, lending a markedly Catalan touch to the Hall of Human Rights at the United Nations in Geneva, crowned by the dome of artist Miquel Barceló.
With a large measure of innovation and engineering, Figueras’ design centre today combines the mass manufacture of models created entirely in-house with the production of designs by renowned architects such as Ricardo Bofill, Jean Nouvel, Carles Ferrater and Rem Koolhas. In the 1990s the firm consolidated its internationalization and on entering the 21st century an emphasis was put on bespoke projects with comprehensive engineering solutions (mobile floor and seating systems, platforms, telescopic grandstands, etc.). Ten million chairs around the world and offices in Barcelona, Madrid, London, Cologne, Singapore and Miami represent a step forward in making the world more comfortable.
www.figueras.com
ROCA. WASHBASIN AND WATER CLOSET W + W
A washbasin and a toilet. Roca has put them together in one unit to take a step forward in domestic sustainability. The water from the sink, filtered and purified, fills the cistern to provide water savings of between 25% and 50% compared to a conventional toilet. This model forms part of the Eco-Roca project through which the firm plans to reduce CO2 emissions and introduce a zero-waste industrial process. This ambitious environmental policy and commitment to innovation form the cornerstones of the brand’s positioning after 50 years of worldwide growth.
The iron radiator and boiler factory established in 1917 later changed direction into the world of bathrooms, ceramic sanitary ware and taps. During the 1990s the company embarked on an aggressive international expansion and became the sector’s world leader in 2006. Design and innovation are the cornerstones of the Roca Design Center, which collaborates with prestigious designers to launch specialist lines whilst continuing to mass produce their own-brand utilities. The latest innovation comprises five Roca Galleries designed to become spaces for dialogue between the public and designers. With a commercial network of 135 countries, 76 production plants and more than 20,000 employees you could say that Roca has brought living room design into the bathroom.
www.roca.com
