Rainbow Brite would be in heaven: Flower Market - Barcelona

Barcelona’s new wholesale flower market — Mercabarna-Flor — near the Barcelona International Airport was designed by Willy Muller Architects.

The most striking features of the new market are the multi-faceted angular roof structure and the multi-colored outer shell inspired by an aerial view of flower fields in full bloom.

The new complex — 15,000 square-meters of buildings on a 44,000 square-meter lot — houses three main sections, one for cut flowers, one for plants and one for accessories. The location near the airport cargo terminal is crucial to the flower business that relies on fast air delivery of fresh flowers.

The impressive building joins a line-up of several much talked-about new structures in Barcelona: Fira de Barcelona’s (Barcelona Fair grounds) nine pavilions and two 114-meter towers designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito; Terminal Sur at the Barcelona Airport by Barcelona’s own Ricardo Bofill; and the Hesperia Hotel and Towers by the British Pritzker Prize winner, Richard Rogers.

Willy Muller’s Barcelona office is led by Muller, a native of Argentina, and by Frenchman and associate architect, Frédéric Guillaud. They also have an office in Brazil. - Tuija Seipell

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Comment by Esteban on March 25, 2009 at 4:58pm: I wonder why I know what Rainbow Brite is. It doesn't have anything to do with how my mom bought a metal Rainbow Brite lunchbox for me in 1st grade and everyone in the cafeteria made fun of me and a third grader punched me in the stomach and I was laid out on the ground, I can tell you that much.

Comment by sAm on March 25, 2009 at 2:21pm: hahah, yeah totally a rollerskating rink! With a bowling alley!

Comment by E on March 25, 2009 at 12:53pm: Dope. Makes me wanna grab a burlap sack and slide down the roof. Looks like it should be filled with all your favorite toys - or, a huge rollerskate+lasertag emporium.