Place de Catalogne

Place de Catalogne is a perfect circle defined by a curved, ochre-colored apartment building that hugs its entire perimeter. Designed by architect Ricardo Bofill in the nineteen eighties, the structure mimics the grand, classical proportions of traditional French urban planning while using modern precast concrete. In the center, a large, polished granite fountain creates a quiet, reflective space. Years ago, the city removed a tangled, elevated highway interchange to make room for this serene, residential courtyard and its surrounding open square.