Issue date: 08 Oct, 2004
The Spanish-Chinese issue with the theme of "Urban Architecture" will be published on 8 October 2004. This issue consists of two values (0.52 and 0.77 Euros) which on Spain's part, shows the stylised tower of the left entrance pavilion in the Parc Güell in Barcelona, and from China, Shanghai's Jin Mao Tower building.
The Park Güell, conceived by the architect Antoni Gaudí i Cornet as a private residential town, and commissioned by Eusebi Güell, is planned according to the Anglo-saxon taste for "garden cities". Hence the English name of "Park" at its entrance and not the Catalan "Parc". It is situated in the north of Barcelona in a rocky area with many slopes, known as the Muntanya Pelada. It was built between 1900 and 1914 and occupies 60 plots with gardens, viaducts, streets, squares, enclosing walls, and reception pavilions, as well as a serpentine bench, covered with multicoloured ceramic trencadis style tiling. The architectonic masterpiece by Gaudí, which is outstanding because of the perfect integration between architecture and nature, did not come to fruition as his project was not completed as a garden city. After Güell died, his heirs sold the park to Barcelona City Council, which opened it to the public in 1923.
The Jin Mao tower in Shanghai is a building that was projected in 1989 by the firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. It is China's tallest skyscraper and the world's fourth highest, as it is 420 metres tall. Located in the Pudon area, in the financial and commercial of Lujiazuii, it has 88 floors. It looks like a Chinese pagoda and is inspired by vegetable shapes. It was built using concrete and steel and is covered with glass. Its various floors are used for offices, rooms of the Grand Hotel Hyatt and parking floors. Impressive panoramic views of the mouth of the river Yangtze roof and Shanghai at night can be seen from the observation point on the 88th floor of the Jin Mao tower.
Rate A - €0.75. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, up to 20 g.
Rate A2 - €0.85. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, between 20 g and 50 g.
Rate B - €1.65. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to Europe (including Greenland), up to 20 g.
Rate C - €1.75. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the rest of the world (except USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), up to 20 g.
Rate D - €2.10. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, up to 20 g.