The Vein uses the star of Gaudi both to balance the monumentality of the Sagrada Familia and to connect with the green spaces of Barcelona. The star of Gaudi was Gaudi’s plan for the development of the blocks around the Sagrada Familia. His plan organizes where to build in order to retain the best views of the Basilica. Our proposal takes the idea of his diagonal to divide our site into two halves. The area above the diagonal is above ground and the area below is under ground to create a hierarchy facing the Sagrada Familia.
Thinking of the division like a vein, the rest of the site uses the logic of a leaf’s circulation to develop its spaces. The programming and structure of the museum further responds to these two halves. The above ground communicates with the street and landscape while the below ground creates a more resolved, intimate space.
