final example

Merging Ideas.

The natural order of utilizing plaza’s/urban areas to gather and socialize, the primordial method yeilds great success and can be seen in all parts of the city.

This image captures the irony of using an urban lanscape under construction [futuristic] in a primordial way. The people drinking and gathering here summarize the mix the city of Barcelona allows you to expeierence. 

Visually and experientially it is evident which parts of the city are places of interest since their method of success has been working for decades. On the other hand, the large bold moves carried out by the city of Barcelona to attempt to build and  improve the city are also evident and together they create an interesting urban mix . 

Barcelona can be looked at a mix of the 'post-city' and the 'ex-city' all in one complete jumble.

[The amount of people help in defining a space, hence population densities are used as a deciding factor in this mini investigation.]

example 4 + conceptual observation

‘Post-city vs ex-city’ -koolhaus: Olympic Games + Forum

‘controlled neatness, a moralistic assertion of good intentions’- koolhaus

Once again we see that large gestures that are a short term fix often yield to long term problems. 

The three black and white images show the dilapidated state of this area when compared through the 'eyes' of the Olympics which lead to great success in the Post-Modern era of Barcelona.

example 3

Synthetic (futuristic) v Synthetic (futuristic)

Both these urban landscapes adjacent to water have a similar function but they produce different results

Left, once again the area near 'The forum of cultures' project built in 2004 to re-invigorate that part of the city.
Right, The new Barceloneta area, revamped after the 1992 Olympics now helps to show that Barcelona as a seaside mediterranean destination.

Thus, density of populations vary. Both attempts are synthetic [futuristic] urban landscapes created for a reason. Here we see that perhaps altering the 'natural' order of the city can yield success if done correctly, e.g. Barceloneta.

example 2

‘primordial and the futuristic’ – koolhaus

On the left we have the forum building constructed in 2004 by herzog de meuron. This large scale ’generic’ project ultimately deters people due to the lack of intimacy. A short term fix for the 'Universal  Forum of Cultures' but long term problems ensued.

On the right we have people gathered in familar cafes, large and small rambla’s that are scattered in pockets of the city. They attract tourists and the people who live in Barcelona. The vibrant nature of these outdoor cafes appeals to people.

Does taking a large step for the want of constrcting a futursitic, modern building automatically create an area for people to gather and congregate? no....

 

example 1

‘primordial and the futuristic’ - koolhaus

On one side there is a fabricated green park near a freeway [a modern, futuristic idea], the park is a very additive forced urban landscape. In this image a man and his dog are the sole inhabitants of the space. 

In comparison to this populated plaza [a common primordial aspect of the city] in a well known neighbourhood which appeals to a range of people and ages.

Essentially, spatial differences allow for varying population densities.

[explanation]

‘patience, or lack thereof’:

Creating urban schemes that alter the natural growth of the city.
this blog explores how urban landmarks/landscapes of Barcelona are a large and obvious mix of 'primordial' (natural) and 'futuristic' (synthetic) themes that affect the spatial qualities of the city. 

patience: ‘primordial vs futuristic’ - koolhaus

definition [primordial]: constituting a beginning; giving origin to something derived or developed; original; elementary: primordial forms of life.
definition [futuristic]: of or pertaining to the future: a futuristic view of the world.

By exploring population densities in relation to urban landscapes that are either natural or synthetic one can begin to understand how Barcelona as a city has been built overtime.

From the generic city, we learn that ‘The Generic City is the post-city being prepared on the site of the ex-city.’- koolhaus

With Koolhaus' thinking, Barcelona clearly can be explained as an interesting mix of the 'post-city' and the 'ex-city' and the relationship between the two is investigated here.