Bench, Terrace, Park Guell, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Winding bench in the shape of a sea serpent and decorated with trencadis mosaic, around the central terrace, at Park Guell, built 1900-14 by Antoni Gaudi, 1852-1926, Catalan Modernist architect, on Carmel Hill, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The mosaic bumps prevent people from sitting in the wet area at the back of the bench. A conduit inside the bench takes rainwater from the terrace to a tank in the hypostyle hall, which feeds the fountains. The park was commissioned by Eusebi Guell and opened in 1926. The area was designed to hold public gardens, houses, paths and roads, irrigation systems and a terrace. Gaudi used organic forms in the structures of the park, incorporating symbols from Catalan nationalism, religious mysticism and ancient poetry and mythology. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Picture by Manuel Cohen

Picture No

13436462

Media ID

45129897

Size

7087px x 4777px (5.3MB)

Credit

Manuel Cohen / Mary Evans

Source

Photograph by Manuel Cohen