Hello archi lovers!
Sometimes you don't have to go very far to discover impressive constructions, buildings or monuments... we have them close by and we can enjoy and admire them anytime we pass by.
This time it has been like that, without traveling far away, just an everyday day in which I was in downtown of what has been and still is my city Valencia, Spain. It is very pleasant to walk through those streets and we can also enjoy iconic elements that the inhabitants of the place normally enjoy and the visitors enjoy with more amazement.
It is about the Mercado de Colón or Colon Market (it would be the Columbus Market literally…) and I am also amazed when looking at its façade on a typical sunny day. The modernist style is evident, and the beauty of its details too. For example, in the upper left part, the mosaic shows the typical Valencian woman dressed in the regional costume (fallera dress) and there are orange trees, typical of this area where the best oranges in Europe are grown. A true symbol that is combined with the city's coat of arms and other smaller adorable details.
And if we look to the sides, the same thing happens, more curious details and decorations also in different parts, even in the internal part of the old ceiling. Due to the style of this building, it must be from the beginning of the 20th century, for many years it had to deteriorate, I barely remember it many years ago, to be honest, but I do remember when it was decided to restore it and reopen it, although this was also years ago.
The best thing is that the iconic façade and also the structure have been preserved, formerly it would be a market for merchandise, but now it is much more.
And this is where the modernist style converges with the current avant-garde modernity, that is, the combination of elements from the past and the present, making it acquire a futuristic air but with essence.
Upon entering we discover an immense open space and the columns with forged details lead us to look up. The structure is spectacular, it has been maintained, let's say that the skeleton is nothing more, but it is everything. And as if it were a big open church, they form three different spaces, the central one with an empty space that leads to a ground floor through escalators, where there are more stores, and the bathrooms, for example. But there are also two side areas, one on each side where there are currently small restaurants to have a drink, a soft drink, a beer, a wine, a coffee or an "horchata".
Yes, "horchata" is the typical Valencian drink, (a sweet drink that is made with a small dark tuber called “chufa”) and there are several places here, and it is very pleasant to sit in the shade when it is hot, and have an horchata in this environment. I recommend it.
During the Christmas holidays, all this is decorated and between the premises and the local space, in the black metallic arches with lighting they put craft stalls, the space acquires another character, endearing and appropriate to the moment. City life and this place are synchronized.
We continue looking at the ceiling and also in front, because you can go out or enter from the other side, where in each corner there are overhangs with the same characteristic style, flowers are usually sold here (unfortunately not on this day) and among flowers some they drink a wine even sitting outside in the sun. Look how beautiful decorated columns!
And outside we look again at the facade on the other side, similar but not the same, is it the main door? Perhaps it is this one, although both are beautiful, in this one there is an ad hoc roof with the building, structure and mixing styles, that is a modern design.
The surrounding buildings also seem to want to stand out and shine with their beautiful and elegant facades, but we will pay attention to them another day, perhaps in another post…
For the moment we are left with the feeling of having traveled through a different and original space in which we can feel that modernist magic of the past and that modern emotion of the present. A place where time stands still, and we enjoy drinking something there. Cheers!
