Banc-fanal, Art Nouveau bench and lamp post in Passeig de Gràcia, Spain.
Banc-fanal is a street furniture installation featuring Art Nouveau design that lines both sides of Passeig de Gràcia, combining seating with integrated lamp posts. The structures pair stone benches with wrought iron light fixtures decorated with detailed tilework and curved metalwork.
The design dates to 1906 when Pere Falqués i Urpí, serving as Barcelona's municipal architect, created these innovative street furnishings. They were built during the height of Catalan Modernism and helped shape the visual character of this famous avenue.
The benches feature a mosaic made from broken ceramic pieces embedded in their surface, a technique rooted in Catalan design traditions. Walking past them, you notice how each section has its own pattern and color variation from these salvaged materials.
The installations run along both sides of Passeig de Gràcia and offer convenient seating spots as you stroll through the shopping district. They are easy to spot along the promenade and require no special preparation to visit.
Each lamp post rises directly from the bench in a single integrated piece, merging street lighting with public seating in one unified design. This thoughtful solution demonstrates the craftsmanship and inventiveness of an era before mass standardization took over urban furnishings.
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