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In the early 1970s, the area around the Calle Tuset was the
nocturnal centre for Barcelona's younger generation.
Restaurants, bars and discotheques are all packed closely
together. It was here between 1961 and 1973 that the Catalan
architects Federico Correa Ruiz and Alfonso Milà
Sagnier built three restaurants, all of which are in original
condition - as if only opened yesterday. 1961, the Reno
restaurant: With a reference to Catalan Modernisme at the
turn of the century, Correa and Milà hit on the taste
of the time. Ox-blood-red carpets, round tables with white
tablecloths, blind-arch wall panelling of subtly reflective
rice paper, and black leather sofas. Their postmodern
interplay creates an atmosphere of sophisticated elegance -
just the right atmosphere for a business meal. - After that
in 1969 came Flash Flash, the pop appeal of which was as
suited to the London of the Swinging Sixties as it was to the
New York of Andy Warhol. Planned together with the owner,
photographer Leopoldo Pomés, the "Flash"
became a leitmotif: the black silhouette of a model taking a
photo, in a roll- neck pullover, flared trousers and a
cheekily placed cap connects photography and fashion. Her
flash shines from the walls and bathes the room in bright
light; round windows open up the view of a nocturnal scene
being staged inside as well as out. White, comfortably
upholstered benches subdivide the room and create a staggered
series of eating niches - blow-up effects that become clear
in the photo. - The restaurant Il Giardinetto followed in
1973. By that time the flower children had arrived in the
city, and had become elegant and socially acceptable.
Inspired by Boules Frenchmen playing under spring trees, the
architects designed the room as an artificial outside room.
The projecting pillars became trees, their lime-green leafy
canopy blending into the ceiling. In this canopy the guests
dine off rattan cane furniture, well served and well informed
by Señor Angel, the maître de maison. At the
semicircular cocktail bar, with a bit of luck, you can drink
your sherry with architects Correa, Milà and Bofill.
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