International Expositions Fair 1929
As Barcelona continued to redefine its city limits throughout the 1800’s we find that the two substantial periods of growth were in 1876-86 and 1914-1929. The latter of the two were due to the International Expositions Fair that was set to take place in 1929 on Montjuic Hill and Citadel Park. Montjuic Hill, translated to mean “Mountain of the Jews”, was named this due to the previous Jewish inhabitants that claimed this mountain as a ceremonial place [1]. was rightly named this due to its previous settlements of Jews and The key areas of representation were to be the electrical of industry, Spanish art and sports. Montjuic Hill was cleared of such shelters and a neo-Baroque palace, Palau Nacional, was built as the main building that would host the fair. Many of the buildings that were constructed specifically for the fair were preserved and converted into museums, including Palau Nacional which was later transformed into the Museu d’Art de Catalunya 1934.
We see that unlike the first fair in 1888, this fair was to be one that excluded any relationship to Catalonia and its people. This is was an echo to the years of turmoil that the Catalan people faced due to the constant battle of wanting to become recognized as its own state [2]. When the then military governor, Primo de Rivera, was established dictator of Spain in 1923 he had fulfilled his promise to outlaw the Catalan language, the states symbols and political parties and made a strong push in declaring Barcelona a Spanish city. While the fair lasted about eight month and had an exceptional turnout due to it being the first World Fair in Europe after the First World War, the increases in public debt were staggering [3][4].
We see that unlike the first fair in 1888, this fair was to be one that excluded any relationship to Catalonia and its people. This is was an echo to the years of turmoil that the Catalan people faced due to the constant battle of wanting to become recognized as its own state [2]. When the then military governor, Primo de Rivera, was established dictator of Spain in 1923 he had fulfilled his promise to outlaw the Catalan language, the states symbols and political parties and made a strong push in declaring Barcelona a Spanish city. While the fair lasted about eight month and had an exceptional turnout due to it being the first World Fair in Europe after the First World War, the increases in public debt were staggering [3][4].
Design Elements from International Expositions Fair 1929
Placa D’Espanya
This traffic intersection was designed by Puig i Cadafalch and was placed strategically in the center of the fair so that it would create a thoroughfare around it and connect it to the many buildings exhibited in the fair.
This traffic intersection was designed by Puig i Cadafalch and was placed strategically in the center of the fair so that it would create a thoroughfare around it and connect it to the many buildings exhibited in the fair.
Fair Entrance Towers
These twin towers framed the entrance to the fair and were built upon the noucentista ideology - the incorporation of the Catalan culture. The towers were built traditionally with bonded brick and was a combination of Renaissance and Mediterranean influence.
National Palace - Museu Nacional D’Art de Catalunya
The National Palace was built at the top of Montjuic Hill in order to ‘face’ the fair. Built symmetrically and with a grand entrance of stairs the use of pinnacles and domes helped to create a new urban feel that would be representative of the Spanish city throughout the years [5].
The National Palace was built at the top of Montjuic Hill in order to ‘face’ the fair. Built symmetrically and with a grand entrance of stairs the use of pinnacles and domes helped to create a new urban feel that would be representative of the Spanish city throughout the years [5].
References
[1] Montjuïc. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://www.aviewoncities.com/barcelona/montjuic.htm
[2] History of Catalonia - This is Spain. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://thisisspain.info/catalonia/history-of-catalonia/
[3] Casellas, A. (2009). Barcelona's Urban Landscape: The Historical Making of a Tourist Product. Journal of Urban History, 35(6), 815-832.
[4] Wynn, M. (1979). Barcelona: Planning and change 1854-1977. 50, 185-203.
[5] Gausa, M. (n.d.). Barcelona : A guide to its modern architecture 1860 - 2002.
Media
[1] (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.parisposters.com/vintage-poster/anonymous/MIS 371_exposicion-internacional-barcelona-1929-c-3.html
[2] (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.xtec.cat/cda-barcelona/quaderns/english/quadern_montjuic_eso_34_English.pdf
[3] [4] BARCELONA, AHORA Y SIEMPRE: LA PLAÇA D'ESPANYA. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://orgullosademiciudad.blogspot.com/2014/10/la-placa-despanya.html
[5] Pl. Espanya and Arenas. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.tripandrate.com/en/barcelona/places/placa-espanya
[6] MontjuicNationalPalace-2.jpg | Fine art photography by Joanna Pechmann. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://joannapechmann.photoshelter.com/image/I00009pfOXxJIfQU
[7] ¿MNAC o Fnac? (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://ccaa.elpais.com/ccaa/2014/05/06/catalunya/1399330287_631124.html
[8] MNAC Museum - Barcelona. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.barcelonabook.com/mnac-museum.html
[1] Montjuïc. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://www.aviewoncities.com/barcelona/montjuic.htm
[2] History of Catalonia - This is Spain. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://thisisspain.info/catalonia/history-of-catalonia/
[3] Casellas, A. (2009). Barcelona's Urban Landscape: The Historical Making of a Tourist Product. Journal of Urban History, 35(6), 815-832.
[4] Wynn, M. (1979). Barcelona: Planning and change 1854-1977. 50, 185-203.
[5] Gausa, M. (n.d.). Barcelona : A guide to its modern architecture 1860 - 2002.
Media
[1] (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.parisposters.com/vintage-poster/anonymous/MIS 371_exposicion-internacional-barcelona-1929-c-3.html
[2] (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.xtec.cat/cda-barcelona/quaderns/english/quadern_montjuic_eso_34_English.pdf
[3] [4] BARCELONA, AHORA Y SIEMPRE: LA PLAÇA D'ESPANYA. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://orgullosademiciudad.blogspot.com/2014/10/la-placa-despanya.html
[5] Pl. Espanya and Arenas. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.tripandrate.com/en/barcelona/places/placa-espanya
[6] MontjuicNationalPalace-2.jpg | Fine art photography by Joanna Pechmann. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://joannapechmann.photoshelter.com/image/I00009pfOXxJIfQU
[7] ¿MNAC o Fnac? (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://ccaa.elpais.com/ccaa/2014/05/06/catalunya/1399330287_631124.html
[8] MNAC Museum - Barcelona. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.barcelonabook.com/mnac-museum.html