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| Shopping in a bull ring |
   
Posted Date: 09/02/2012
By Robert Stockdill
The Arenas Bull Ring in Barcelona, on the edge of Barcelona’s CBD, opened in March and is home to local fashion brand Desigual’s newest flagship, audio visual chain Fnac, among others.
With just 31,000sqm of leasable space, it’s not a huge centre but the architectural achievement is jaw dropping.
The entire ancient structure has been elevated and secured on a new foundation with underground car parking space excavated underneath.
The top floor has a full circular viewing platform that affords views across the city with a collection of restaurants (yet to be unveiled) opening out onto the deck.
Inside, the open core has been preserved with a single row of tenancies facing a balcony on each floor and escalators carrying people from floor to floor.
Giant express escalators and glass lifts take people from the ground up to a 12-screen cinema beneath the restaurants, and the viewing deck. It has six floors in all.
As if cinemas, restaurants and a viewing deck aren’t enough to attract locals and tourists alike, the centre also features a Museum of Rock and a giant enclosed rooftop dome covering a concert arena.
The historic bull ring opened in June 1900 and hosted its last fight almost 77 years to the day later.
While the interior is entirely new, boldly styled in glass and metal, the entire exterior wall has been retained virtually intact.
The Arenas Bull Ring is located on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes. It’s easily spotted on the way in from the city’s airport.
Website (it’s in Spanish, but has more photos): www.arenasdebarcelona.com
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Wednesday, February 08, 2012 by Bill Blakey
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