Barcelona Photoblog: shopping
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts

August 29, 2011

Las Arenas in Barcelona, From Bullring to Shopping Center

Las Arenas Shopping Mall by Richard Rogers

Inaugurated back in March, 2011 Las Arenas de Barcelona shopping center that arose from the "ashes" of an old bullring is clearly one the best examples of modern architecture in Barcelona.

I took some more pictures of the surroundings and from above that I will post someday but not too many of the building as such. Maybe this link to a gallery published in the Guardian portraying Las Arenas before and after helps.

A long time ago, when this project was starting I published a couple of images where you could see the whole building held above the ground by a steel framework: Las Arenas bullring in Plaça Espanya and Las Arenas: A Historic Barcelona Bullring to Become a Leisure Center. The posts are so old that some links are not working.

Learn more about this project's architect, Richard Rogers.

Las Arenas has 105.000 sq meters of retail and leisure. 12 movie theaters. A fully equipped gym, including a jogging track. A wonderful 360 degree platform around the dome to enjoy one of the best panoramic views of Barcelona city, especially Plaza España and the fountains of Montjuic.

I suppose the place will be crammed packed for La Merce celebrations in September.

Find here the Las Arenas shopping centre's main site, unfortunately just in Spanish.

April 08, 2011

Compulsive Shopping at Passeig de Gracia

Shopping at Passeig de Gracia  [enlarge]

Shopping in the most expensive street in Spain is risky for the wallet and yet there are some stores along Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona where you can adventure into compulsively squandering your monthly salary. While on a shopping spree though, it is easy to pull out the plastic magic wand usually known as Visa and also referred to by many other names with unpredictable effects. At that moment, you are the luckiest person in the world, you have overcome centuries of cash exchange to finally manage to get goods for free. But fairy tales are illusive and the fantasy created by the wand gently fades away by the end of the month. You wake up naked wearing a fig leaf, fleeing from a bunch of goons in black sent after you to gently remind you that your magic wand has been cancelled and you owe money to the bank.

June 08, 2007

El Corte Ingles Department Store at Catalonia Square, Barcelona

El Corte Ingles Department Store at Catalonia Square, Barcelona [enlarge]

This is El Corte Ingles at Plaça Catalunya or Catalonia Square, one of the most important department stores in Barcelona and Spain. El Corte Inglés was named after a shop specialised in children's tailoring in Madrid back in 1890. Ramón Areces Rodríguez founder of the company, bought the tailor's shop and made it a private limited company in 1934. In the 60s El Corte Inglés began its expansion as a chain of department stores, the number of establishments grew in Madrid and new centers were open in Barcelona (the one in the image), Seville and Bilbao. Later on, it covered most provincial capitals in Spain and started diversifying its activities with a travel agency, Viajes El Corte Inglés, S.A.; an insurance company, Seguros El Corte Inglés and a chain of hypermarkets, Hipercor. The group also runs Supercor S.A. (supermarkets), Opencor (24 hours convenience stores), IT services, Sfera (clothing chain) and Bricor (DYS stores). From the point of view of a client, my opinion is that their products are more expensive than the average but they counteract that with an extremely efficient customer service.

April 03, 2006

Maremagnum: The Tourist Paradise

Maremagnum: The Tourist Paradise


Today it was really warm (about 22 Cº) so we decided to take a walk and head for Maremagnum , a combination of shopping mall and leisure center including the aquarium, imax cinema, and lots of restaurants and disco bars on the very edge of Barcelona's Port Vell ("old harbor") waterfront. Standing on the planks of the wooden platforms by the sea you can take pictures like this. 

The word "maremagnum" is derived from Latin and can be translated as "great sea" or "large body of water." The name reflects its waterfront location, with views of the Mediterranean Sea. Maremagnum is a popular destination for both locals and tourists due to its convenient location near the city center and its wide range of offerings. 

The shopping center houses numerous stores selling fashion, accessories, electronics, books, and more. There are also several dining options, including restaurants, cafes, and fast-food outlets, catering to different tastes and budgets. 

In addition to shopping and dining, Maremagnum features a cinema complex, a bowling alley, and a variety of entertainment venues. It is known for its vibrant atmosphere, particularly during weekends and holidays when visitors can enjoy live performances, concerts, and cultural events. 

Maremagnum's waterfront location makes it an attractive spot to relax and enjoy views of the sea. It has outdoor terraces and seating areas where visitors can soak up the Mediterranean ambiance. Overall, Maremagnum offers a combination of shopping, dining, entertainment, and scenic surroundings, making it a popular destination for people looking for a diverse experience in the heart of Barcelona.

March 09, 2006

Las Arenas: A Historic Barcelona Bullring to Become a Leisure Center

Las Arenas


Ready for the latest in architecture, well maybe you have not seen it all. That you have to build a leisure center but you have a historic bullring such as Las Arenas in the way, no problem we call Richard Rogers the English architect we put some props under the brickwork and we lift it up to go underneath. You don´t believe it, well just check the photo I took this morning. The main purpose of this center will be to provide a link for pedestrians who want to walk between the Montjuic area where you have the Olympic stadium and some important museums like Art Gallery Fundació Miró towards Parc Joan Miró on the other side. Under a huge translucid dome enjoying the food of the many restaurants, jogging round the circular track or simply going to the cinema, people from Barcelona and tourists will be more than just pleased.
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