Design Museum of Barcelona — Attraction in Barcelona

DESIGN MUSEUM OF BARCELONA

The Disseny Hub Barcelona (Design Hub Barcelona) is a multifunctional facility located in the Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes. It serves as a hub for design and innovation in the city. The building, designed by MBM Arquitectes (Josep Martorell, Oriol Bohigas, and David Mackay), combines modernist and functional design principles, making it a standout piece of contemporary architecture.

Here’s an overview of its design and purpose:

Architectural Overview

Form and Structure:

• The building has a rectangular, monolithic form with angular protrusions that give it a bold, geometric character.

• Its façade is clad with metallic panels, creating a minimalist, industrial aesthetic.

• The structure integrates seamlessly into its surroundings, with elevated sections creating shaded areas and open spaces beneath.

Integration with Public Space:

• The Disseny Hub includes open plazas and green areas that connect the interior to the urban environment of Plaça de les Glòries.

• A sloping ramp invites visitors to ascend to the upper levels, blending accessibility with aesthetic design.

Interior Layout:

• The building is organized into functional zones, each serving a different purpose:

• Exhibition Areas: Large, flexible spaces for temporary and permanent exhibits on design, architecture, and creativity.

• Research and Documentation Center: A repository for design history and resources, aimed at professionals and students.

• Auditorium: A multi-use space for lectures, workshops, and events.

• Offices and Workspaces: Dedicated to design professionals and organizations.

• Natural light is prioritized through skylights and open layouts, creating an inviting atmosphere.

Functionality and Vision

Cultural Hub:

• Hosts exhibits and events focusing on graphic design, industrial design, architecture, and fashion.

• Home to Museu del Disseny de Barcelona (Barcelona Design Museum), which showcases over 70,000 items, including textiles, furniture, and decorative arts.

Innovation and Collaboration:

• A space for creatives to collaborate, hosting workshops, lectures, and networking events.

• Facilities for prototyping, experimenting, and learning using cutting-edge design technologies.

Sustainability:

• Built with energy-efficient materials and systems.

• Designed to adapt to future urban developments and environmental needs.

Educational Outreach:

• Programs for schools and universities.

• Interactive exhibits aimed at engaging the public with design concepts.

Symbolism

The Disseny Hub is a reflection of Barcelona’s identity as a global design capital, blending the city’s rich tradition of craftsmanship with contemporary innovation. Its bold architecture is a statement of the city’s commitment to creativity and...

I visited the museum today. I think the facilities are great and the exhibitions are excellent as well. The overall experience was not good because we decided to take a guided tour. To start with, the tour was only announced in the local language therefore if you are not able to understand Catalan, you would miss it. Luckily my first language is Spanish and I lived in Barcelona for 4 years so my daughter and I showed up for the tour on time. Three couples were waiting for the tour and the tour guide. I heard the tour guide speak in Catalan and I kindly requested if she could do it in "Castellano" which means In Spanish. She said it was fine with her but it was up to us, the audience, to decide. One couple said it was fine with them and the other couple said something in Catalan to the tour guide. To my surprise the tour guide said she would do it in Catalan and maybe we would learn some Catalan in the process. For those of you who do not know, Catalans also speak fluent "Español" or Castellano. This means the tour guide consciously decided to exclude part of her audience in order not to bother the local catalan audience. I love Barcelona and have many Catalan friends but it was incredible to me that such an advanced city continue to think small. Tourism is a huge industry for Barcelona and at some time they need to figure out that there are many more people that speak Spanish or English. It would be impossible to continue their quest to teach Catalan to the rest of the world. Again, I love Barcelona and there are a lot of great people in Cataluña. They need to change some things in my opinion. By the way, I stayed for the tour and understood at least 80% of the presentation. It helps that my first language is Spanish since I'm from Puerto Rico and I'm fluent in English, studied French, and understand Portuguese. My only purpose for this review is to make Barcelona...

Ok place for the design novice and general public interested in looking at old objects. The exhibition of the permanent collection is rather old fashioned and un-interactive. They could hire a design team to redesign it and learn from other more successful venues such as the design Museum in London or the Cooper Hewitt Design museum in NY. The building is spacious and appropriate. They need to “redesign” the signals on the automated glass doors, as it is confusing and lack consistency, making it difficult to know which one will open. I got trapped in the elevator, as I took it trying to go up from the first floor to the top, to find out way too late, that it only works to go down, but would open the door once you are in. I press the alarm button but no one came, and it was only until a visitor call the lift from the top floor that I managed to get out. I mentioned the incident to a staff member, and her reaction was like “yeah, I know, next time ring the alarm”. If she knew,they could have 1) put a note. 2)be slightly more sympathetic. The coffee shop is one of the best features of the place. Great to sit, relax and have a nice coffee. There was a painting exhibition on the ground floor, which was more interesting and fresh than the museum collection. There was another exhibition “Digital Impact” which I had to pay separate, which was really good and made the visit to this museum worthwhile. I guess...