La CaixaForum – Art & Architecture

If you enjoy a good art exhibition and enjoy interesting architecture then check out the CaixaForum, you’ll get to enjoy both.

The building, with five exhibition spaces, a mediateca, a kids’ art workshop, 350 seat auditorium, café-restaurant and gifts & books shop, is a former textiles factory. It’s a romantic re-invention of a medieval castle. When it opened in 1912 local people refused to believe the building was a factory.

It served as a factory for only eight years. In 1940 the abandoned building was taken over by Franco’s police as a stables and garage. The current complex opened in 2002.

To celebrate their first 10 years they have put togther an excellent exhibition programme. Two of the current exhibitions, Goya – Lights and Shadows features more than a hundred works from the Prado – and runs until June 24th.  And, Delacroix, features 130 works - and runs until May 20th, 2012. Both are well worth visiting.

From now until May 17th the building will be open until 22:00 every Tuesday and Thursday.  They have a good permanent collection – featuring works by artists such as Joseph Beuys and Sol Lewitt (who produced the permanent work you’ll see on the wall in the entrance). 

And, when done with wandering this inspired and inspiring building, there’s a café-restaurant which serves drinks, snacks and full meals. 

And, if you really do enjoy architecture you’ll be pleased to know that the Mies van der Rohe pavilion is just across the road, and Poble Espanyol just a few hundred metres away.