In the courtyard, the brewery’s fissured brick backdrops a plant wall by Patrick Blanc—who also designed the vertical gardens of Nouvel’s Musée du Quai Branly in Paris. The plant-brick combo represents a mingling of nature with industry, just like the process of making beer. Simultaneously, the plants are a living complement to the stone representations of barley and hops carved into the facade. Indeed, the project was guided overall by a desire to layer or juxtapose different eras. A clear glass wall allows the microbrewery’s stainless-steel machinery, on one side, to provide a striking counterpoint to a venerable well, on the other. Now a non-operational feature of the restaurant, the well once supplied water for beer-making. The idea is revelation through contrasts, throwing each era into relief.
Rutes de Barcelona 