The Lebanese-Dutch designer Tarek Atrissi (43) grew up in Beirut, lived in the Netherlands for a long time, worked in Dubai, Qatar and the United States. He has an office in Hilversum and an office in Barcelona, where he has lived for eight years. atrissia is known worldwide as a designer of fonts, graphic and product design, specializing in Arabic and cross-cultural design. Atrissi: ‘Barcelona reminds me of Beirut. Also a city by the sea that does not feel like a metropolis at all, but as a warm, accessible, walkable city. I walk all over Barcelona. The best thing is the clear blue sky, and that social life takes place outside. The apartments are small, but the outdoor space is all the greater, with parks and courtyards everywhere. The relaxed way of life of the Barcelonans really appeals to me, how important food is and sitting at the table for hours together, and then suddenly you have had lunch for three hours and your tight, Dutch schedule is completely screwed up.’
The other Rambla
Tarek Atrissi: ‘Just outside the center in the north, El Poblenou is a Brooklyn-like neighborhood that is on the rise. It used to be Barcelona’s industrial district, but the factories have now been given creative and cultural uses. The nice walking area here, the Rambla del Poblenou, is much less crowded than the other well-known Rambla. On the Rambla del Poblenou there are fine restaurants, such as Recasens, a cozy, characteristic restaurant, where they serve fantastic wines and tablas de quesosserving elaborate cheese boards.’
RecasenRambla del Poblenou 102
Beautiful furniture
‘Also in Poblenou: the design museum, fairly new, very good and in a special building. Even if you are not a designer, you will enjoy this Museu del Disseny. There are such beautiful furniture and lamps, there are such beautiful posters – three or four floors full of passion and beautiful products.’
Museu del Disseny de BarcelonaPlaca de les Glòries Catalanes 37-38
Mirrors, colours, cast iron
‘Barcelona’s covered markets often have striking architecture. Such as the flea market, the Mercat dels Encants, in Poblenou. The Mercat is built like a high tent with giant mirrors in the roof, very beautiful. Barcelona has such a rich visual culture. Everyone knows the colorful, Catalan modernism of Antoni Gaudí. And that style is reflected in the Mercat de Santa Caterina, another covered market, with an undulating, multicolored roof, clearly inspired by Gaudí. But I think the older Mercat de Sant Antoni, in the recognizable 19th-century style with its cast iron supporting structure inside, is just as beautiful.’
Mercat dels EncantsCarrer dels Castillejos 158
Mercat de Santa CaterinaAvinguda de Francesc Cambo 16
Mercat de Sant AntoniCarrer del Comte d’Urgell 1
Eating with Godot
‘The Sala Beckett, for modern Catalan theatre, is located in an old wedding and communion hall that had been empty for years, but has been completely renovated and renovated. I know the theater mainly from the super good mini-restaurant El Menjador de la Beckett, the ‘charismatic bar’ they say themselves. delicious calamari a la andaluza, bunyols de bacallà and of course patatas Bravas. Saturday and Sunday you can eat there with live music.’
El Menjador de la BeckettCarrer de Pere IV 228, 232
hot chocolate
‘Since 1870, ‘milk bar’ Granja M. Viader has been located in the heart of Barcelona. This is where the Barcelonans came and come for breakfast. I think it’s such an authentic, charming cafe, because of the historical items in the display case and the old posters and advertisements on the walls. It’s almost like a small design museum. The breakfast, for example classic churros and hot chocolate to dip them in, is great by the way. In restaurants and on the street I can’t resist looking at lettering and pictograms, Barcelona is a very inspiring city for someone who loves design.’
Granja M. ViaderCarrer d’en Xuclà 4
Velvet Piano Bar
“I designed the logo and branding for the Velvet Room, a piano bar hidden in a narrow side street that has only been open a few months. Everything is designed in the same atmospheric style of the forties and fifties: the light, the furniture, the logo and whatever else can be seen. Nice to go there to drink champagne during a live jazz session.’
Velvet Cream BCNCarrer de l’Aviacio 5
Oasis
‘A true green oasis in the city: in Barcelona’s large Ciutadella park there are plenty of (palm) trees to cool off on hot days, or for a shady walk. The park also has a large pond, fountains, a waterfall, a stately entrance gate and even a zoo, and is very popular among the Barcelonans.’
Parc de la Ciutadella, Passeig de Picasso 21
Olympic atmosphere
‘For me, Barcelona is also the city of monumental street art, there are so many public works of art to discover. Like Robert Llimos’ frameor David i Goliath by artist Antoni Llena, or the well-known statue Dona i Ocell by Joan Miro. But I think the most beautiful work of art is the anonymous three-dimensional sculpture at the Platja San Sebastià. Such a dynamic image of stylized, moving bodies, which I believe represents the spirit of the ’92 Olympics. The atmosphere of that time can still be felt in this Spanish city.’
Homenatge a la Natacio, Platja de San Sebastian
Sandy beach with pier
‘To the beach? Maybe give Badalona a try, the beach on the border of Barcelona in the north. A wide sandy beach with a pier and a boulevard. It’s not even that busy and the station is close by. Don’t tell too many people, please.’
Platja de Badalona, Carrer de Ribas i Perdigó 42, Badalona