Plaça dels Països Catalans, Public square and art installation at Sants district, Barcelona, Spain.
Plaça dels Països Catalans is a modern public art installation in the Sants neighborhood, featuring large copper roof structures and cement shapes. The ground displays geometric patterns throughout that guide pedestrian movement and create distinct zones within the plaza.
The project began in 1981 and was completed in 1983, introducing a fresh approach to designing public squares in the city. This work influenced how many other minimalist plazas would be built throughout Barcelona in the years that followed.
The plaza takes its name from the Catalan regions and reflects their importance to local identity. Visitors notice this symbolic meaning through its geometric design, which deliberately moves away from traditional park layouts.
The plaza sits directly across from Sants train station and is easily reached on foot from the neighborhood. The flat surface accommodates visitors with different mobility needs.
Hidden within the geometric patterns is a metal plate shaped like a cat that many visitors miss. This concealed element adds a playful and unexpected moment to the otherwise strictly geometric design.
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