Finally I have got the possibility of hosting a guest here – my husband. An avid traveller and seldom home, this is what I have been waiting for him to let me do…Back from a short trip to Spain, he brought back home some great architecture  – in pictures and stories of course. I’m happy to show some of them here – hope you will enjoy them as much as I do!

The river Turia in Valencia used to flood often and sometimes at the cost of several lives. In 1957 the river was redirected to run south of the city. This created a more than 100 metres wide, dry river bed, which has been converted into parks, sports arenas and recreation areas, but also into CAC (City of Arts and Science), the futuristic science city.

The City of Arts and Science is a complex of culture and science exposed in the futuristic architecture of several buildings. The architect is Santiago Calatrava, the man behind Turning Torso in Malmoe. These buildings are very spectacular – and beautiful – the effect highlighted by different water pools. Calatrava was much criticized for overriding the budget though. And this was no less tough when CAC was completed, 1998-2005, during the recession followed by a financial collapse.

The first building I visited, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, was the last one completed – 2005. Size: 163 m long, 87 m wide and 70 m high, but it’s the spectacular architecture that catches the eye. It’s built in white concrete, and clearly resembling a baleen whale. The ”baleen plates” is a restaurant and above it a window with flowing water. Inside are four concert halls where two of them take 1400 people each. They are used for operas, concerts and ballets. The two smaller ones hosts 400 people each. Unfortunately there were no guided tours in this magnificent building – it wasn’t even open, except for the restaurant.

Please click on any picture to show off the gallery.

Palau Reina Sofia

Palau Reina Sofia

Palau Reina Sofia

The next work of art is called Hemisféric, finished in 1998. This piece looks almost like an eyeball resting in water. It’s about 100 m long and inside is an IMAX-cinema. On the curved screen (900 square metres…), you can project movies as well as the whole canopy of heaven. This screen is the biggest in Spain and both in definition and sound it is among the best ones known in the world. Unfortunately the Hemisféric wasn’t open either, other than for movies or guided tours. Had I known, I would have booked in advance.

Hemisféric

Hemisféric

Hemisféric

I then continued my walk past the spectacular Science Museum. Here I walked along an even more spectacular construction by the name of Umbracle. This is a botanical garden characterized by its white vaults running along the whole structure of 1,5 hectare. The plants are all from the Mediterranean area and the view from here over the whole complex is fantastic. The surrounding areas are sometimes used for outdoor expositions.

Umbracle

Umbracle

Umbracle

Umbracle

Passing a wide street I reached the Agora, another breathtaking piece of architecture used for congresses, conventions, fashion shows and concerts – and also for sport events as tennis and frisbee.

Agora

Overview with the Science Museum

Agora

Oceanografic

Oceanografic

The Oceanografic was the last architectural phenomenon for the day, hosting among other things an Aquarium.

The last gallery shows more overview pictures of this very rewarding day.

Science Museum