Ciutadella Park vs Montjuic


Ciutadella Park in Barcelona is a very meticulously thought out and well planned park located on the edge of the Gothic quarter of the city.  There is one very clear linear element that runs through the entire park and organizes the spaces around it.  In addition to this there are also seemingly random paths and spaces that branch off of the main straight, but even they have order.  The singular elements that are placed in the park are also all not placed without relevance. In other words each building, clearing, and plant has order. The landscape of the park begins to define the placement of the buildings and the movement of people. The words "form" and "order" come to mind.


Montjuic is the mountain on the southern end of Barcelona. Like Ciutadella, things seem to be planned out with a sense of order and form.  Unlike Ciutadella, however, the entire space is not planned out as one.  Instead, each element has its own form and order that doesn't seem to relate to the next.  The botanical gardens, for example, have a very random and jumbled feel to them, and yet somehow there is a very clear path that one with subconsciously follow form the beginning to the end.  On the other hand, the Olympic complex is very linear and direct.  In other words each building is strategically placed on an even grid, and the remaining space is filled with very planned, linear landscaping elements.  The castle slightly down the hill has the same, linear, planned feel.  Even thought these elements are all very planned out, they do not relate to each other as a whole, like Ciutadella Park does.


~Anthony A