Torre Agbar
Encyclopedia
The Torre Agbar (ˈtorə əgˈbar) is a 38-storey tower
located between Avinguda Diagonal and Carrer Badajoz, near Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes
, which marks the gateway to the new technological district of Barcelona
, Spain
. It was designed by French
architect
Jean Nouvel
in association with the Spanish firm B720 Arquitectos and built by Grupo ACS
. The Torre Agbar is located in the Poblenou
neighborhood of Barcelona and is named after its owners, the Agbar Group
, a holding company whose interests include the Barcelona water company Aigües de Barcelona.
The tower measures a total of 50,693 square metres, of which 30,000 are offices, 3,210 technical facilities, 8,132 services, including an auditorium, and 9,132 square metres for parking.
It opened in June 2005 and was officially opened by the King of Spain on 16 September 2005 and at a cost of 130 million euro.
The building is owned by the multinational group Agbar which has its corporate headquarters in the building and that takes up most of the floors, renting the remainder. The Agbar Tower was acquired in March 2010 for 165 million euro, after reaching an agreement with its former owner, the investment group Azurelau. Azurelau previously had bought the property in mid-2007. The purchase price was not disclosed.
, a mountain near Barcelona, and by the shape of a geyser rising into the air. Jean Nouvel, in an interview, described it as having a phallic
character. As a result of its unusual shape, the building is known by several nicknames, such as "el supositori" (the suppository
), "l'obús" (the shell
) and some more scatological ones. It is also somewhat similar in shape to Sir Norman Foster's 30 St. Mary Axe in London, often called "the Gherkin". It has 30,000 m² (323,000 ft²) of above-ground office space, 3,210 m² (34,500 ft²) of technical service floors with installations and 8,351 m² (90,000 ft²) of services, including an auditorium
. The Agbar Tower measures 144.4 m (473.75 ft) in height and consists of 38 stories
, including four underground levels.
Its design combines a number of different architectural
concepts, resulting in a striking structure built with reinforced concrete
, covered with a facade
of glass
, and over 4,500 window
openings cut out of the structural concrete. The building stands out in Barcelona; it is the third tallest building in Barcelona, only after the Arts Hotel
and the Mapfre Tower
, both 154 m (505.25 ft).
A defining feature of the building is its nocturnal illumination. It has 4,500 LED
luminous devices that allow generation of luminous images in the façade. In addition, it has temperature sensors
in the outside of the tower that regulate the opening and closing of the window blind
s of the façade of the building, reducing the consumption of energy for air conditioning. It houses the head office of the Aigües de Barcelona Group, the water supply
company of Barcelona.
The construction, as explained by Nouvel himself was strongly influenced by one of the most representative symbols of Catalan culture. On one side was inspired by the work of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí reference to the bell towers of the Sagrada Familia and based in turn on the idea of the Hotel Attraction
, a course project by teacher Reus in 1908 for some employers hoteliers New York which was redesigned in 1956 by his disciple Joan Matamala which in 1978 were included in the book Delirious New York of Rem Koolhaas, a reference for many architects. In addition, as a tribute to the Sagrada Família
, the north side of the tower was designed with the intention of obtaining an optimal view of the temple. In turn, Nouvel was inspired by the distinctive pinnacles of Montserrat mountain range - of great significance for Catalonia, the location of the shrine that houses their patron saint, Our Lady of Montserrat.
In the design of the Agbar Tower, Nouvel said he rejected the prevailing opinion in North America of what a skyscraper
should look like, hence the phallic
shape. It is the architect's intention give the impression of land that is emerging in a special way out of the ground. The use of the tower by a water utility company, led him to the design from a metaphor
of a geyser
sprouting from the deep sea.
The construction used 25,000 m3 of concrete and 125 tonnes of steel.
The unique lighting system of the building, dubbed by its creator Yann Kersalé as diffraction, who defined it as "a vaporous cloud of colour that seeks moiré", is often used in the celebration of various events such as the naming of Barcelona as the capital of the Union for the Mediterranean
, the 50th anniversary of Treaty of Rome or the Commemoration of Autism Day among others.
In mid-2008, a number of Catalan public institutions made a list that included the major cultural icons in the Autonomous Community that were meant to serve as models for tourist souvenirs which identity Catalonia, and the tower was included in it.
The popularity of the tower to tourists is such that a visit to the tower has become a part of tourist bus routes (and even the helicopter tour) and many tourists take an opportunity to visit the inside.
The impact of the image of the tower is such that many groups have chosen its vicinity as a place to carry out their demands, and in some cases even to enter it by force.
, the main Catalan regional television service, has used the capabilities the special lighting system at the Agbar Tower offered to show end of year celebrations
. This has become the venue chosen by thousands of locals and visitors to the city to welcome the New Year
. This choice of the tower as an icon of the city for New Year celebrations have allowed Barcelona to begin to appear on television around the world alongside those of famous landmarks in cities such as Sydney
, Madrid
, Paris
, London
or New York
. Prior to 2006 this did not occur because the places chosen by TV3 lacked the international recognition that the Jean Nouvel tower provides.
.
The Torre Agbar featured in a postcard in the music video of Loca People
by Sak Noel
where it was described in the subtitles as 'Giant Dildo'.
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
located between Avinguda Diagonal and Carrer Badajoz, near Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes
Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, Barcelona
Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes , most often shortened to Glòries, is a large square in Barcelona, first designed by Ildefons Cerdà to serve as the city centre in his original urban plan , but nowadays relegated to quite a secondary position...
, which marks the gateway to the new technological district of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It was designed by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Jean Nouvel
Jean Nouvel
Jean Nouvel is a French architect. Nouvel studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and was a founding member of Mars 1976 and Syndicat de l'Architecture...
in association with the Spanish firm B720 Arquitectos and built by Grupo ACS
Grupo ACS
Actividades de Construcción y Servicios, S.A. is a Spanish company dedicated to civil and engineering construction, all types services and telecommunications. It is one of the leading construction companies in the world, with projects in many countries around the world...
. The Torre Agbar is located in the Poblenou
Poblenou
El Poblenou is an extensive neighborhood of Barcelona that borders the Mediterranean sea to the south, Sant Adrià del Besòs to the east, Parc de la Ciutadella in Ciutat Vella to the west, and Horta-Guinardó and Sant Andreu to the north...
neighborhood of Barcelona and is named after its owners, the Agbar Group
Grupo Agbar
Agbar is a Spanish company dedicated to services, distribution or treatment of water. The company was founded in 1867 in Liège as Compagnie des Eaux de Barcelone by an investor from France and Catalonia . The group is present in almost all the continents as North America, South America, Asia and...
, a holding company whose interests include the Barcelona water company Aigües de Barcelona.
The tower measures a total of 50,693 square metres, of which 30,000 are offices, 3,210 technical facilities, 8,132 services, including an auditorium, and 9,132 square metres for parking.
It opened in June 2005 and was officially opened by the King of Spain on 16 September 2005 and at a cost of 130 million euro.
The building is owned by the multinational group Agbar which has its corporate headquarters in the building and that takes up most of the floors, renting the remainder. The Agbar Tower was acquired in March 2010 for 165 million euro, after reaching an agreement with its former owner, the investment group Azurelau. Azurelau previously had bought the property in mid-2007. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Design
According to Jean Nouvel, the shape of the Torre Agbar was inspired by MontserratMontserrat (mountain)
Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain located near the city of Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. It is part of the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range. The main peaks are Sant Jeroni , Montgrós and Miranda de les Agulles...
, a mountain near Barcelona, and by the shape of a geyser rising into the air. Jean Nouvel, in an interview, described it as having a phallic
Phallus
A phallus is an erect penis, a penis-shaped object such as a dildo, or a mimetic image of an erect penis. Any object that symbolically resembles a penis may also be referred to as a phallus; however, such objects are more often referred to as being phallic...
character. As a result of its unusual shape, the building is known by several nicknames, such as "el supositori" (the suppository
Suppository
A suppository is a drug delivery system that is inserted into the rectum , vagina or urethra , where it dissolves.They are used to deliver both systemically-acting and locally-acting medications....
), "l'obús" (the shell
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
) and some more scatological ones. It is also somewhat similar in shape to Sir Norman Foster's 30 St. Mary Axe in London, often called "the Gherkin". It has 30,000 m² (323,000 ft²) of above-ground office space, 3,210 m² (34,500 ft²) of technical service floors with installations and 8,351 m² (90,000 ft²) of services, including an auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
. The Agbar Tower measures 144.4 m (473.75 ft) in height and consists of 38 stories
Stories
Stories may refer to:* Height of more than one Storey * Stories , a greatest hits compilation album by Randy Stonehill...
, including four underground levels.
Its design combines a number of different architectural
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
concepts, resulting in a striking structure built with reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
, covered with a facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
of glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
, and over 4,500 window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
openings cut out of the structural concrete. The building stands out in Barcelona; it is the third tallest building in Barcelona, only after the Arts Hotel
Hotel Arts
The Hotel Arts is a 44-story, 483 room luxury hotel on the seafront of Barcelona, in Catalonia.Contrary to popular belief, it was not built to service the 1992 Summer Olympics, though its construction was part of the big changes underwent by the city to prepare the Games. It remains one of the...
and the Mapfre Tower
Torre Mapfre
Torre Mapfre is a skyscraper in the Port Olímpic , the maritime neighborhood of the Old City of Barcelona in Spain. It is named after its owner, Mapfre, an insurance company....
, both 154 m (505.25 ft).
A defining feature of the building is its nocturnal illumination. It has 4,500 LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
luminous devices that allow generation of luminous images in the façade. In addition, it has temperature sensors
Sensor
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated...
in the outside of the tower that regulate the opening and closing of the window blind
Window blind
A window blind is a type of window coverings. There are many different kinds of window blinds, using different systems and materials. A typical window blind is made with slats of fabric, wood, plastic or metal that adjust by rotating from an open position to a closed position by allowing slats to...
s of the façade of the building, reducing the consumption of energy for air conditioning. It houses the head office of the Aigües de Barcelona Group, the water supply
Water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
company of Barcelona.
The construction, as explained by Nouvel himself was strongly influenced by one of the most representative symbols of Catalan culture. On one side was inspired by the work of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí reference to the bell towers of the Sagrada Familia and based in turn on the idea of the Hotel Attraction
Hotel Attraction
Hotel Attraction was a proposed project by architect Antoni Gaudí, for a skyscraper in New York City.The project was commissioned in May 1908. Planned at a total height of 360 metres, it was probably unrealistic for its time...
, a course project by teacher Reus in 1908 for some employers hoteliers New York which was redesigned in 1956 by his disciple Joan Matamala which in 1978 were included in the book Delirious New York of Rem Koolhaas, a reference for many architects. In addition, as a tribute to the Sagrada Família
Sagrada Familia
The ' , commonly known as the Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí...
, the north side of the tower was designed with the intention of obtaining an optimal view of the temple. In turn, Nouvel was inspired by the distinctive pinnacles of Montserrat mountain range - of great significance for Catalonia, the location of the shrine that houses their patron saint, Our Lady of Montserrat.
In the design of the Agbar Tower, Nouvel said he rejected the prevailing opinion in North America of what a skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
should look like, hence the phallic
Phallus
A phallus is an erect penis, a penis-shaped object such as a dildo, or a mimetic image of an erect penis. Any object that symbolically resembles a penis may also be referred to as a phallus; however, such objects are more often referred to as being phallic...
shape. It is the architect's intention give the impression of land that is emerging in a special way out of the ground. The use of the tower by a water utility company, led him to the design from a metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
of a geyser
Geyser
A geyser is a spring characterized by intermittent discharge of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by a vapour phase . The word geyser comes from Geysir, the name of an erupting spring at Haukadalur, Iceland; that name, in turn, comes from the Icelandic verb geysa, "to gush", the verb...
sprouting from the deep sea.
Construction
Starting in mid-1999, when activities were initiated for the preparation of the site, the building of the tower by the company Dragados,[8] dragged on for nearly 6 years. Construction ended in late 2004. Approximately 1170 workers were engaged in its construction.Materials
The main materials used in the construction of the building were concrete which comprises the structure of the tower and aluminum and glass in the form of 59,619 strips of painted sheet metal of different colours, covering the approximately 16,000 m2 of exterior surface. In addition, the glass has different inclinations and opacities which combined with the different shades of aluminum alter the colour balance of the tower as a function of time of day and season of the year concerned.The construction used 25,000 m3 of concrete and 125 tonnes of steel.
Form and structure
The tower is made up of two concentric concrete oval cylinders which do not come in contact with each other. The outer cylinder, which completely encases the inner cylinder is covered by a dome of glass and steel which gives the tower its characteristic shape of a bullet. This outer cylinder with a thickness of 45 cm. at the base and 25 cm. at the top contains approximately 4,500 windows, while the inner cylinder measuring 50 cm. at the base and 30 cm. at the highest point, is where the lifts, stairs and facilities are located.Distribution
The building contains 38 floors of which 34 are above ground and four floors are underground. Two of the underground floors host an auditorium for 316 people in addition to other services areas while the other two are intended for parking. Of the 34 floors located above the ground, 28 are for offices, three are technical plants hosting building facilities, one is dedicated to multipurpose rooms, another houses the cafeteria and the last is intended to be a viewing platform just below the top of the tower.Lighting
One of the most characteristic elements of the building is its nocturnal illumination. The tower has more than 4,500 luminous devices that can operate independently using LED technology and enables the generation of images on the outside of the tower. The system is capable of creating 16 million colors, thanks to a sophisticated system of hardware and software. It has the ability to quickly transition between colors which can create a shocking effect.The unique lighting system of the building, dubbed by its creator Yann Kersalé as diffraction, who defined it as "a vaporous cloud of colour that seeks moiré", is often used in the celebration of various events such as the naming of Barcelona as the capital of the Union for the Mediterranean
Union for the Mediterranean
The Union for the Mediterranean is a multilateral partnership that encompasses 43 countries from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: the 27 member states of the European Union and 16 Mediterranean partner countries from North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans...
, the 50th anniversary of Treaty of Rome or the Commemoration of Autism Day among others.
A symbol of Barcelona
Once it was finished, the Agbar Tower quickly became an architectural icon of the city of Barcelona and one of its most famous buildings. However, it was not initially immune to criticism from citizens and experts who said that its characteristics did not fit into the architecture of Barcelona. Over time it has become one of the symbols that universally identify the Catalan capital and is one of its tourist attractions.In mid-2008, a number of Catalan public institutions made a list that included the major cultural icons in the Autonomous Community that were meant to serve as models for tourist souvenirs which identity Catalonia, and the tower was included in it.
The popularity of the tower to tourists is such that a visit to the tower has become a part of tourist bus routes (and even the helicopter tour) and many tourists take an opportunity to visit the inside.
The impact of the image of the tower is such that many groups have chosen its vicinity as a place to carry out their demands, and in some cases even to enter it by force.
Ringing in the New Year
Since 2006, TV3TV3 (Catalonia)
TV3 is the primary television channel of Catalan public broadcaster Televisió de Catalunya, a subsidiary of the CCMA. TV3 broadcasts programs only in Catalan, with an optional dual track in the original language for some foreign-language series and movies...
, the main Catalan regional television service, has used the capabilities the special lighting system at the Agbar Tower offered to show end of year celebrations
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
. This has become the venue chosen by thousands of locals and visitors to the city to welcome the New Year
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
. This choice of the tower as an icon of the city for New Year celebrations have allowed Barcelona to begin to appear on television around the world alongside those of famous landmarks in cities such as Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
or New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Prior to 2006 this did not occur because the places chosen by TV3 lacked the international recognition that the Jean Nouvel tower provides.
Semicircular lipoatrophy
In April 2007 a worker at the tower was determined to have a case of semicircular lipoatrophy, a rare disease possibly related to static electricity buildup and lack of moisture, outbreaks of which were already experienced in other office buildings of the Catalan capital. In mid-2007 there were at least 40 workers in the tower affected who joined the hundreds diagnosed in Catalonia and led to the Generalitat (the government of Catalonia) to recognize this condition as an occupational accident.Curiosities
- The tower has twice been scaled by Alain RobertAlain RobertAlain Robert , is a French rock and urban climber, from Digoin, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne, France...
. The first, on 3 August 2006, was an action which sought to call for peace in the conflict in LebanonLebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. The second was in September 2007.
- In 2007, "Torre Agbar" was recorded in the Spanish Patent and Trademark office, by the company Aigües de Barcelona, for use as a brand of alcoholic beverages.
In popular culture
The Torre Agbar is a featured locale in the 2009 video game Wheelman, published by Midway GamesMidway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
.
The Torre Agbar featured in a postcard in the music video of Loca People
Loca People
"Loca People" "Loca People" "Loca People" (also known as "Loca People (La Gente Está Muy Loca)" or "Loca People (What the Fuck!)" is a song by Spanish disc jockey and producer Sak Noel. Dutch singer Esthera Sarita performed the female vocals in the song. It was released in most countries on June...
by Sak Noel
Sak Noel
Sak Noel is a Catalan DJ, music producer and music video director. He is also founder and co-owner of Moguda production house . Since 2009, Moguda also runs the annual Moguda Dance Festival....
where it was described in the subtitles as 'Giant Dildo'.
See also
- 30 St Mary Axe30 St Mary Axe30 St Mary Axe, the Swiss Re Building , is a skyscraper in London's main financial district, the City of London, completed in December 2003 and opened at the end of May 2004...
, also known as "The Gherkin", and occasionally as The Swiss Re Tower, is an architecturally similar building in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
which opened a year and a half earlier, in April 2004. - Alain RobertAlain RobertAlain Robert , is a French rock and urban climber, from Digoin, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne, France...
, a famous climber who has scaled the building.
External links
- Torre Agbar collection of articles.
- Torre Agbar web page (Macromedia Flash)
- Technical information and photos Spanish
- bcn.travel/torre-agbar with photos and video