Honestly? This started totally by accident. I wasn’t even planning to dive into BCN architects specifically. Happened last month during a trip to Barcelona.
Got Totally Lost (Seriously)
Just landed, threw my bags in this tiny AirBnB near El Born, and figured I’d wander. Big mistake. Barcelona streets are confusing as heck. Next thing I know, I’m staring at this massive, weirdly shaped building. Looked like giant concrete slabs stacked unevenly. Felt brutal, but also… weirdly light? Sun was hitting it just right. Snapped a pic, no clue what it was.
Later, grabbing some overpriced tapas at a tourist trap, I tried sketching it on a napkin. Failed miserably. My attempt looked like a kid’s block tower drawing. Frustration kicked in. Pulled out my phone, typed “weird concrete building near El Born Barcelona”. Boom. Top result mentioned BCN architects. That napkin doodle was my accidental starting point.
Started Obsessing Over Details
Once I knew the name, it was a rabbit hole. Every walk became a treasure hunt. “Is that them? Maybe this one?” Started noticing patterns:
- Shapes are kinda… random? Seriously, not like those boring boxes everywhere. More like someone dropped irregular blocks. Less rigid corners.
- Holes! Everywhere! Big openings, slits, courtyards punched right through the buildings. Light was bouncing all over inside these spaces.
- Feeling Light, Not Heavy Even with all that concrete, it didn’t feel crushing. Maybe the light tricks? Or how they break up the mass? Couldn’t pin it down.
My phone gallery quickly filled with blurry pics of facades. Got a few weird looks standing around squinting at walls.
Okay, Let’s Actually Read Something
Fine, research time. Sitting in a tiny cafe near my place, nursing a mediocre espresso, I finally Googled “BCN architects design style”. Needed to know what made their ‘modern approach’ tick. Most articles were too jargon-heavy. Tuned out fast. Then found something basic saying they play with space and light like few others in modern architecture. That clicked.
Started comparing their stuff to other modern buildings I’d seen. Lots of others feel cold. Precise. Like machines. BCN’s buildings? Felt more like… natural formations? Weird connection, but it worked for me.
Tried My Own Dumb Interpretation
Got inspired (or maybe just bored) one rainy afternoon back home. Grabbed this cheap white modeling foam from the craft store. Not exactly marble, but close enough? Wanted to see if I could capture that feeling of weightlessness combined with solid forms.
- Started hacking at the foam block randomly. No plan, just cut out chunks.
- Carved holes through it at weird angles.
- Stuck some broken chopsticks in as ‘supports’.
- Placed it near a window, shifting it around.
Light was streaming through the holes, making cool shadows on the table. It was messy. Crude. But that feeling? The sense of solid mass made playful by light? Kinda got it. My crappy foam monstrosity captured a fraction of the vibe. Didn’t solve the ‘modern approach’ mystery entirely, but made it feel real. Tangible. Way more than any fancy article could. The proof is sitting dusty on my bookshelf right now. There’s a chunk missing where the cat tried to eat it.