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Photographs from the 2004 Study Tour - Catalonia, Spain
Copyright © 2004 by each photographer and historical text by James Douet, from the SIA Study Tour Guide, Catalonia Spring 2004 CLICK ON THUMBNAIL PHOTO TO ENLARGE - SIA Study Tour Guide by James Douet (PDF) |
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See more photographs Page 2
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Vertical Cement Kilns near Ogassa The ruins of Ogassa mining village and cement kilns. By the mid-19th century, there were still hopes of finding important coal deposits in Catalonia, but towards the end of the century they were finally abandoned. Mining of limited amounts of coal was concentrated in four main areas, of steam coal at St Joan de les Abedesses, and lignite at Berguedà, Calaf and the Baix Segre. Coal mining in this area began in the mid-C18 but intensified under the demand created by the steam engine and railway from the 1860s. The railway arrived to Toralles in 1862 and a system of inclined planes and wagon ways carried the coal down from the mines. The peak years were from 1890s to the 1920s - Ogassa claims to have had electric light before Madrid - though mining ended only in 1967. Associated with the mines from the 1880s were cement works, using the coal and limestone deposits, and the last of these closed in 1997.
SIA members at the Vertical Cement Kilns Photographs by Patrick Martin |
La Miralda Textile Mill, Manresa, Photograph by Marc Greuther Fàbrica del Panyos ‘La Miralda’: Credited as the oldest recognisable modern textile mill in Catalonia. The steam engine had still not reached Spain when it was built in 1818, and it was driven by a water wheel fed from the river alongside, to make woollen cloth. The internal structure of brick diaphragm arches is derived from Medieval building customs in Catalonia. It is said to have been the largest factory in Spain.
Sagrada Familia Photograph above by Marc Greuther |
Cellers Cordoniu cava cellars Sant Sadurni d’Anoia In the nationalist rebirth at the end of the 19th century, it was common for architects as well as industrialists to draw inspiration from medieval complexes, the walled towns, cathedrals and monasteries that are the raw material for the mythical origins of Catalan art. This is especially clear in the work of Josep Puig i Cadafalch. The Cordoniu family estate has been here since 1551. In 1890 they commissioned Puig i Cadafalch to enlarge the premises, work that continued from 1896 to 1906 and included the bottling and labeling sections, pressing room and cellars. The new buildings all have gigantic vaults spanning 9m on diaphragm arches, echoing the halls of the Royal Shipyards in Barcelona. The house that Puig built for the family has the neo-medieval forms and language typical of the architect. Photograph by Patrick Martin
Arrastra Mill (water powered) Banyoles Photograph by Susan Martin. |
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