Keeping it fresh

Carrer Elisabets

Ever noticed, how above the doors in Barcelona there are (usually) grilles in place that allow air to waft in freely? If you hadn’t, I’ll show you – here we go!

They are examples of more or less elaborate wrought iron or cast iron beauties, which provide ventilation (in Winter and in Summer) to the lobbies and stairs of residential buildings. Often they will have the initials of the builders or architects (?) incorporated into their design as well as the year of completion of the building in question…

Carrer Princep de Viana

Carrer Cera

At times they have been closed up, with wooden boards or glass, such as here below. I don’t recall where I found this curly, circly example, although with the palm tree reflected in the window pane, I believe it might be found on the Rambla del Raval.

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Carrer Parlament

Carrer Sant Pacià

Carrer dels Àngels

Did you notice the ceiling in the photo above? Quite typical of lobbies and main rooms in homes, here in Barcelona. If you visit the Cute Suite, you’ll be able to see this first hand!

Carrer Parlament

These two examples have windows that can be opened and closed – a luxury most buildings don’t have. The grilles are rather lovely, don’t you agree? They can be found in the neighborhood close to the Mercat de Sant Antoni, which I posted about here, remember?

Ronda de Sant Pau

Carrer de Sant Rafael

Here are some examples of semi-circular grilles. The one above is from a passage way that lies between Carrer Hospital and Carrer Sant Rafael. These passages would be closed with doors at night (and often still are), and from the outside resemble entrances to a building.

Carrer Parlament

Wooden beams on ceilings are also very commonly found here in Barcelona – visible on the image above.

Carrer Parlament

The building below has two cast iron columns in its lobby – can you spot them under the flaky ceiling beam?

Ronda de Sant Pau

Ronda de Sant Pau

Two very subtle grilles, inserted into wooden doors. I’m seriously impressed with the dragons in the doors below – they are gorgeous, and very Asian looking! During this period of time, the influences on architecture and applied arts were usually taken from nature and folklore, as well as the Americas, but not often from Asia. I guess I have found a rather unique set of doors!! As you can see, the dragons were carved from wood, and the iron grilles can be found in the spaces below the dragons. It is quite possible, that the window panes below the dragons can be opened for extra ventilation.

Have a great Tuesday! I’ll be back tomorrow, with more Barcelona bits and bobs…

Ronda de Sant Pau