House of Shade and Rainfall

Shadow is a gift of the gods whose immense value is not universally appreciated. Those who love bullfighting are aware of it, and are willing to pay enormous sums to ensure a seat a la sombra; the same is true of summer beachgoers, who vie for possession of beach umbrellas, sparing no expense. Humans, like trees, tend to be divided into shade-loving and sun- loving species. The former, in order to attain the shade they seek, turn to architects, who have been long been in the business of designing to provide it. The Umbracle of Barcelona, designed to offer relief to shade-loving plants more than a century ago, is emblematic in this context, a place where the love for shade and rain converge within a reconstituted jungle. Its history is recounted here by Oscar Tusquets.