Spain 6 days trip...西班牙旅记

Why thing appear in your mind when we mention the country called Spain? Bull fight, Gaudi's Art or Zoro? Before I went there I think we have the same conception. So I would like to share some travel experiences with you. First of all, I not consider I am a tourist but a traveller. I prefer to explore some new experiences that can inspire my view to different perspective. For me, I prefer to capture a photo with different angle than the normal image which similar like the postcard.  

西班牙给你什么一个想像的空间呢？斗牛？高迪建筑物？还是热热的太阳？在着短短的六天旅程中我尝试不用一个旅客的眼睛去看西班牙，而是一个流浪者的心态去开拓这西方的老都；以前读书我都很羡慕那些旅行家能够用他们的旅行经验去诠释人生，让自己更了解自己，也让自己更了解世界。当然，在这趟6人行的旅程中我并不能不顾一切地走我要走的路，但是通过城市的景观，市民的表情和街道表演来用另一个角度体验西班牙。

1.Barcelona: Cityscape and the street 

The first building that capture my attention in the Barcelona was the this 'bullet' tower (left) designed by Jean Nouvel . Actually, the first thing

in my head was this tower shape was copying the london Norman Foster's Gherkin building(right). There two building has similar shape, stlye and design. The unbelievable thing is this Architect Jean Nouvel is the winner of 2008 Pritzker Prize,the Architect profession highest honor. And Norman Foster is the winner of 1999. Why all the architects who design this kind of shape tower have been awarded highest honor? So, this is the time for us (architecture student) to think about the reason behind. What the shape relly mean and contribute to architecture industry？ 

虽有人说“人有象似”，不知在巴塞罗纳第一栋吸引我眼光的大厦竟然与伦敦的一个标志性的高楼有99％的象似。可能有人认为一定是某个‘二打六’的建筑师抄袭英国大师级建筑师Norman Foster在伦敦的杰作；但我们都错了，设计这两栋楼的建筑师都是当今世上有名的建筑师。其实这两栋楼的吸引力并不是在于它的外表，而是它能够给于我们无限的想像空间，有人说它像子弹，手指，阳具，或其他东西；也有人猜想建筑师究竟是以什么为概念呢？不过一切都不会有答案的，就是因为没有答案，所以才会继续唤起人们的幻想；有时候给了答案，反而什么都变的没趣了。有时在我们的生活中保留一些的想像，保留一些答案，可能会让我们的世界变的更精彩和更有活力。这可能就是这两位大师给我们的答案吧！？

We know that western culture is more expressive than eastern. From the architecture style in Spain we notice that they even more expressive and show it on the architecture art. The curve line balcony, over size front door seem to remind us that they won't keep any feeling but show everything in they mind to everybody body pass through the street.

在这城市里我发现许多建筑景观都与一般认知有别，超大的大门，花俏的露台，每个建筑都像是街头的爵士，在街头上起舞，跳着西班牙的tango；而路上的行人都是它们的每天的观众，路上的车笛声就是它们音乐。巴塞罗纳的街道就是一个大舞台，没有所谓的寂寞和冷场

If you have studied Spain history then you know that Spain has been powered by Islam government during year 711 to 1409. It quite a long time and it has a great influence to the local art and architecture. As we familiar with the Islamic art where admire the geometry and plant texture, has showed on the building art in this city. The natural geometry and art create a magical landscape to the street and culture in the city. 

回教曾经在西班牙有着一段辉煌的政权。这可能让很多人都好奇的回教历史，的确在这欧洲这片大陆上从基督教政权的手上统治了西班牙将近600年。就在这世界两大文明的交流之下，西班牙给人类留下了其独特一面的文化艺术。从这里也看到了政权和信仰之间的密切关系，也看到了‘诸事无常’的道理。无论是如何坚固的政权和信仰，在战争和岁月的洗涤下，也会避免不了改变的事实。昔日的政权和斗争，留下给后人的也不过是一段历史故事而已。而我们这一代人又会为600年后人们什么故事呢？

This building was designed by the another great awarded architect called Herzog and de Meron, their are the 2001 Pritzker Prize winner. It designed for an International Forum few years ago, and now I not really sure what this building using for, it look so lonesome and abandoned. No one on the site beside the cleaner, it look like a very cool building until no one can understand him. It just like isolated by everybody and stand on the ground by itself, no neighbor, no visiter and no programme. 

这冷酷的建筑是我慕名而来探访的。设计它的就是设计北京奥林匹克运动场的建筑师，也是当今世上被称大师的建筑师。这栋建筑是因为要举行一项国际性的研讨会而建的，可是研讨会后它却变成了一座城市里的雕像，艺术品。我参观的当天四周冷静的出奇，没有人气也没有活动；这栋大师的作品却只有冷漠地迄立在那儿等待这人们来欣赏。这也就是我们常常说的‘白象’建筑物：为了某项活动而兴建特定的建筑来迎合它，活动后只变成了一座让人淡谈忘去的洋灰。而世界许多地方不知多少建筑的命运也因为某季节性的活动过去而让人遗忘！？

Far opposite of the International Forum building I found a huge unknown structure, so I try to get near the structure to find out its function. What do you guess on it? In fact, this structure is a huge Photovoltaic station. This station generate the electricity via sun light. If I not mistaken this structure was built in the same period with the Forum building, it is because the topic of the forum was about the earth issues. Nevertheless, this structure has given a amazing 

impressive to me, a functional usage merge with architecture, and in the same time it create a fascinating spacial for visitors. Beside that, Barcelona city council has introduced a new concept of sharing bicycle in city, they do have many 'bike station' for people to take and park their rented bike. It is a very interesting eco-city concept indeed. 

在那研讨会建筑不远处，我发现了一栋很有趣的结构群，它原来就是一栋太阳能发电站。其实我发现在巴塞罗纳这个城市里很注重环保和能源循环；除了这巨大的太阳能发电站，他们还有公共脚车站，那就是每隔不远处就有一个‘脚车站’，停着许多脚车，然后你就登记去拿脚车，踩到某处你要去的地方，你就把脚车换回去那而的‘脚车站’。这的确是一个非常创意性的公共概念。不知我们马来西亚何时何日才会有如此的醒觉呢？

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2.Gaudi Architecture: Casa Mila

 Milà is one of the famous building not only in Barcelona but in the world. Designed by Gaudi in 1906, it has became the most iconic building in Barcelona in over 100 years. It describes as the most peculiar apartment in the world. Frankly, as a architecture student, 

I have never ever see this kind of weird design building before, and I am sure even nowadays no architect dare to design this kind of building. The facade is so scary and the interior is so magical, it not like a building on earth but from others planet. 

这奇怪的建筑你因该在常某某书本或电影中看过吧。中文称它为米兰之家，只看外表已气势凛人，破浪式的露台，不规矩的柱子，在加上古灵精怪的门口，窗口和楼梯等等，让里面的空间千变万化。说的直接一点这可能就不属于地球的，而是火星的。可是当我参观这房子时发现，高迪本人是对地球的生物是有多么深的了解和认识。里头的设计概念都是取于地球生物的形态，如蜜蜂窝，甲虫，树叶，果实等等，就是因为他采取地球的生态型状，而我们生活惯了在‘直线的人造世界’里，才会认为高迪的作品不属于这世界。其实有时候，我们的城市里‘方块盒子’才不能体现出这地球的生态环境。

Trough the visit, it make me more admire Gaudi's intelligent and contribution on architecture. The construction method he used was not load bearing wall but was the post and beam system. You know, the post and beam construction method only widely used during 50's to 80's, however he already design it in 100 years ago. Beside that the playful chimney on the roof is for natural ventilation purposes, he also create a garden on the roof. All the element tat I found in the Casa Mila was the advance construction technology and creative  idea. Don't think the oak shape of this building is meaningless, he not 'play play' one. 

从更深一层的了解和参观，这屋子的结构和空间的设计在一百年前绝对是超级前卫的。曾经有一个到此一游的学长问过：若一个小孩从小就这屋子里面长大，不知对他的心理与一般的孩子有什么不同？他会如何看待‘直线’的世界？他会比较属于‘地球人’吗？我想最好的方法就是让一班小孩子进去住住看，让他们来告诉我们吧,因为我们大人都被我们自己创造的世界捆住了。

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3. La Sagrada Familia 

After Casa Mila, the next Gaudi's most exciting project is the great church La Sagrada Famila. The construction was begun in 1882, unfortunately Gaudi died cause by an car accident in 1926. Because design was too complicated, no one know how to continue the project, however Spanish government try to work out the project again and schedule to be completed in 2026, (100 years after Gaudi death). But frankly to say, this project won't be completed anyway, no one can understand the thinking of Gaudi, no one can copy him and no one able to imagine how creative Gaudi was. Anyway, Sagrada Familia has leave a mysteries  in human history. 

高迪除了是建筑界的才子，他也是对宗教充满热诚。这个名为神圣家族教堂是他最后的遗作，他把人生最后的四十年奉献了给这个教堂，可惜是他无法在这伟大的圣教堂完工前离去。一场交通意外夺走了他灿烂的一生，所留下的就是一栋栋震撼人心的建筑物。这教堂的设计真的很诡异，集合了许多让人不明白的符号和形状，大堂里高大粗野的柱子已让人觉的气势凛人，透不过气来。在我眼中他真正表现出上帝的伟大，从教堂里的每一个细节他都参考地球上的生物结构。若你是基督教徒就知道，上帝造万物，从泥土里的甲虫，蚂蚁，贝壳到树木都有一定的结构和方程式，而高迪就运用了这生物的结构和方程式的理论创造了这伟大的教堂。非常少数的人能够真正融合其宗教的智慧在人类文明里，而高迪的作品让我明白大自然其实有很多东西给我们去学习去运用。

4. Park Guell 

The last Gaudi's project that we visited was the Park Guell. It is hard to believe that the park was built in almost 100 years ago. The concept and construction method was so modern and contemporary. What Gaudi really think in his mind? How does he has so much idea to create the world? It is so amazing, the park is like 100 years old 'Disney land', it provide an unlimited imagination to us. 

这公园是我们参观高迪最后的作品。一个我说不出如何形容的公园，许多让人费解的设计和空间，像梦幻的小屋，令人深印象的马赛克的图案。我觉得巴塞罗纳这个城市的确是因高迪而存在的，他的影响并不能只局限与建筑界，他的名字可说是与这城市共存亡。没有高迪就没有今天的巴塞罗纳，没有巴塞罗纳也没有高迪的伟大作品。人与城市的关系原来可以如此的密切。