The creative vitality of both Barcelona and Antares
Welcome!
Barcelona is a city of art, filled with the work of creative masters who pushed the boundaries of traditional design: think of Miro, Picasso and Gaudí. At Antares too, we celebrate the very best of modern international design, thanks to the inspirational vision of architect Odile Decq. Her reputation for being ‘wilfully unconventional’ and her joyful contemporary style makes Antares a unique statement, transforming Barcelona’s skyline while delivering elegant living spaces and unrivalled views.
This newsletter celebrates the creative vitality of both Barcelona and Antares. We look at the legacy left by those artists and consider their influence on Odile’s work at Antares, making her own modern legacy for the city. Antares’ visionary design has been recognized by numerous international awards including the 2022 International Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum.
A reminder that if you are in Barcelona for WMC, 27th February to 3rd March, do please make time for a visit to Antares. We would welcome the opportunity to show you around our magnificent building, the very latest artistic marvel in Barcelona.
Best wishes
The Antares team
Barcelona: the cultural capital
Pablo Picasso trained in Barcelona and over 4,000 of his artworks are collected in Museu Picasso in Carrer Montcada. The museum opened in 1963 at Picasso’s direct request, a mark of his love for the city. There’s still time to catch its exhibition dedicated to Picasso’s art dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler, running until 19th March • Surrealist Joan Miró was born and raised in Barcelona and is buried in the city’s Montjuic Cemetery. His work is celebrated in the Fundacio Joan Miró, a striking building heavily influenced by Miró himself, where over 10,000 sculptures, drawings, paintings and ceramics, are on display. • Barcelona is an open-air museum for the work of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. That includes the Art Nouveau magnificence of Casa Vicens, the waves of Casa Batlló and the soaring splendour of La Sagrada Familia.
Exterior splendour and interior artistry
The work of these famous artists is referenced in many details at Antares. The satisfying curves of Gaudí’s Casa Batlló find a 21st Century interpretation in Antares’ dynamic balconies, the geometric shapes beloved by Miró are mirrored in our low-level garden pavilion and the bold red used throughout, a signature colour of both architect Odile Decq and of Barcelona. With acclaimed interior designers HBA London, Studio Decq has created three show apartments at Antares, each a homage to a legendary Spanish artist. The Miró Apartment, Chillida Apartment and Tapiès Apartment, all on the 10th floor of the 30-floor tower, have floor to ceiling windows and wide terraces, along with designs reflecting their famous namesake.
Take a virtual tour here:
Barcelona’s Lifestyle Wins
Those artists were ahead of the curve not only in their artistic creations but also in their appreciation of Barcelona as a place to live. In their annual ranking of “The World’s Best Cities,” Resonance Consulting have promoted Barcelona to the top tier, placing it sixth worldwide as a place to live and work. They considered climate, architecture, lifestyle and the “artistic, sophisticated and bohemian neighbourhoods” as well as making special mention of the city’s commitment to a greener future. The ranking places Barcelona as the third best European city, behind only Paris and London, and one of only two cities in the top ten that isn’t a capital.
