150 Years of the Eixample
This Barcelona commemorates the 150th anniversary of the expansion of the city. The redevelopment plan was hatched was by Catalan engineer Ildelfons Cerd? and it remains one the supreme examples of town planning throughout the world. Nowadays it is one of barcelona hotels most densely populated neighbourhood and remains the most popular area to live in.
From high above, whether you are up on top of Mount Tibidabo or on a plane coming into land at Barcelona airport, the layout of the Eixample is unmistakable and impossible to miss. The 420 symmetrically aligned residential blocks create an obvious pattern and from above you can see the building blocks with the open square in the middle which either serves as a garden area for the residents or as plaza for the general public.
The Eixample was designed so that people could get from the sea to the mountains and from side of the city to the other with relative simplicity. It connected the main part of the city with Graci?, now a district within the city, but was then actually a village outside of the city area.
It contains many well off tenants with some beautiful hotels in barcelona. The Sagrada Familia district is one nicer parts of it in which to live but the most expensive apartments can be found high up above the Passeig de Gracia, where one can expect to pay several thousand a month in rental price or millions if wishing to buy. However it does contain some less off sections which contain decaying buildings. These can be mainly found in the fringe areas of the area.
To celebrate 150 years of the Eixample, the city is launching a series of activities on the 11th June which will include exhibitions. From 4th November 2009 to 7th February 2010, at the shipyards in Drassanes, you will be able to find out why Ildefons Cerd?’s Eixample has become a prime example of modern urban planning.
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