The students studied Masia Freixa and Sant Jordi's Park to learn about their history, geography, community, and art. They discovered that Masia Freixa was originally a wool warehouse and family home, and is now used as town hall offices. It was designed in a modernist style by architect Lluis Muncunill. The students mapped the area, observed changes over time, and identified damages in the park. They concluded that the park provides an important green space for citizens, but needs continued maintenance and investment to preserve the heritage buildings and educate residents.

1. Comenius pledge Comenius project LET’S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY

2. INTRODuction Ourtaskconsisted of studying Masia Freixa and thegardens in Sant Jordi’sPark. Wehad to exploretheplace in order to reachour conclusions abouthistory, geography, communityspirit and art.

3. HISTory Wehaveseenpictures of the past and wehavediscoveredthedifferentpurposesthat Masia Freixa has had so far: Wool and alpaca warehouse. Freixa familyresidence. Library (duringtheSpanish Civil War). Music school. Town Hall offices.

4. HISToryof the Freixa family and Lluís Muncunill Josep Freixa i Argemí was a wool manufacturer. He wasoriginallyfromOlot, and he wasmarried to a womanfrom Terrassa. He was a resourceful and artisticallysensitiveperson. Lluís Muncunillwasthe local architect, whodesignedthehouse. He was a ModernistartistinfluencedbyGaudí’swork. He has leftan important legacy of hisworks in Terrassa.

5. HIStoryof architecture and gardens It is located in theoutskirts of thecity. It was built over the ancient structure of the family’s factory. Muncunill gets his inspiration from nature in order to build the Masia. The parabolic arch and the Catalan arch are used in doors, windows and the roof. The building materials are stone and small pieces of glass for the roof. Simple decoration: curve shapes, white coat, minaret and skirting board made of white tile. Romantic style gardens. Decorating sculptures: Saint George and Venus (among others).

6. GEOGRAphy We made small groups in the classroom and we looked at different types of maps. We located MasiaFreixa and the main sites in town. We noticed, by means of Google Earth and old photographs, how the surroundings have changed. We registered the changes observed.

7. GEOGRAphy We observed the surroundings of MasiaFreixa and the buildings around it. We analysed the style of the different buildings, their materials, their aesthetic aspect and their harmonic connection with the surroundings. We registered those buildings. We also registered the different services which the park offers and we studied whether they are enough or not for the town.

8. GEOGRAphyConclusions MasiaFreixa was formerly located in the outskirts of Terrassa, surrounded by fields and factories. It is now located in the town centre, surrounded by many buildings which suffocate the park. There are still some factories. The growth of the town is due to the fact that Terrassa is an industrial town which has received many immigrants. The buildings around it oppress the park and they are not in harmony with the surroundings. We propose a regulation of styles and materials. Although there is a huge green area in Terrassa, named Vallparadis Park, it also needs other green areas such as SantJordi’s Park.

9. CItizenship We brainstormed about the current uses of SantJordi’s Park and MasiaFreixa: The park is a public place used for citizens leisure. MasiaFreixa is now a set of local offices. The owner and responsible for its upkeep is Terrassa’s Town Hall. The upkeep that the park needs consists of: gardening, sanitation and watching patrols.

10. CItizenship We have analysed the damages and the renovations that have been carried out there. We have registered all the damages which worsen the monument and its surroundings. We have set on a map the damages previously registered. We have registered the last renovations which have been performed. We have marked on a map those changes. Finally, we have prepared a report on the conclusions that we have reached.

11. CItizenship Damage and acts that make worsening the environment are: Animal droppings. dirt such as cigarette butts, plastic, cans, paper and chewing gum. Bad conservation of the MasiaFreixa. Graffited furniture and trees.

12. CItizenshipConclusions Sant Jordi’sPark The park is in good conditions thanks to the recent renovations. But there is dirt and graffiti due to the lack of concern of some citizens. Users who have less awareness are children and teenagers. It has improved in terms of safety, gardening and cleaning. Masia Freixa It presents a general deterioration due to the courseof time, lack of actions to preserve it and acts of people on shutters, facade, painted graffiti and pigeon droppings. It is necessary a general restaurationof the building.

13. CItizenshipConclusions It has been done a total and necessary remodelling of the park. Citizens take advantage of it. The citizen is partly responsible for the proper conservation and public spaces maintenance. The City Council is investing funds for the maintenance and preservation of the park. We must invest in user awareness and educate children and teenagers. The maintenance of the park is everybody’s responsibility

14. CItizenshipMasia Freixa and Sant Jordi’sPark in thefuture MasiaFreixa in the future might have other functions rated as positive for the citizens. House-museum of modernism in Terrassa Historical Achieve Youth’s Office Educational space for temporary exhibitions Tourist Information Centre

15. CitizenshipMasia Freixa and Sant Jordi’sPark in thefuture We would like to maintain in SantJordi’s park: the Gardening service the security service. Aspects that should be improved: More flexible timetable. Information panels on the site Service bar or restaurant Public toilets Educational Activities Clearing of the building environment

16. interviewDomènec Ferran, director of theMuseum of Terrassa DomènecFerran told us about the local heritage: "The awareness of the inhabitants doesn’t depend on warnings, but on education at school and home”. "We are already thinking about installing bars and restaurants in the park. It would promote the touristic attraction in this area“. " Children and grandchildren bring their parents and grandparents to cultural areas of the city, this is because the school has provided this interest.“ "It is very important and necessary to do all kind of activities to assess the heritage of the city.“

17. interviewmireia Freixa, historian and Josep Freixa’s descendent MireiaFreixasolved our doubts about the past of MasiaFreixa and SantJordi’s Park . "LluisMuncunill was not directly a pupil of Gaudi, but he was inspired by his work, he never met him personally“. "The minaret had no use, it was only a part of the decoration of the house. We were forbidden to climb it“. "The gardens were more extensive than now. There used to be a forest, where the picnic area is now“. Mr. Freixa bought a copy of Donatello’s Saint Jordi sculpture in Italy to celebrate the birth of his first child; whose name was Jordi”.

18. interviewMercè Compte, specialized in historicalgardens Mercè Comte, from the Friends of the Park association, told us about the garden’s history: “The roses collection has been recovered since it was characteristic of Modernism”. The Cypress Corridor was not original from the construction of the house. The demands of neighbours were taken into consideration before doing the remodelling. The removal of trees has been done because they were sick. The shrubs and flowers that have been planted are local and environmentally friendly.

19. ARTWeinterpretthepark and Masia Freixa We interpret the park and MasiaFreixa. We went to the park to draw. We had a good frame and it provided ways to lace. At home we finished our drawings with the proper drawing technique.

20. MADE BY: 2nd ESO STUDENTS OF ESCOLA EL CIM, TERRASSA. ACTIVITY INCLUDED IN THE EUROPEAN COMENIUS PROJECT WITH THE EUROPEAN COMISSION SUPPORT “LET’S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY”