Torre Agbar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Torre Agbar[1] | |
| Image:Torre Agbar - Barcelona, Spain - Jan 2007.jpg | |
| Information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Image:Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona, Spain |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Status | Complete |
| Constructed | 2001 - 2004 |
| Opening | June 2005 |
| Use | Office, conference, restaurant |
| Roof | 144.44 m (473.88 ft)[2] |
| Top floor | 128.3 m (421 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 33 |
| Floor area | 51,483 m² (554,158 sq ft) |
| Elevator count | 9 |
| Cost | US$130,000,000 |
| Companies | |
| Architect | Jean Nouvel |
| Structural Engineer | Brufau & A. Obiol[3] |
| Owner | Grupo Inmobiliario Layetana |
The Torre Agbar (Spanish translation from the Catalan version of the building owner's name Aguas de Barcelona, a water company), or Agbar Tower, is a 21st century skyscraper at Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and built by Dragados[4]. It opened in June 2005 and it was inaugurated officially by the King of Spain on 16 September 2005.
Contents |
[edit] Design
According to Nouvel, the shape of the Torre Agbar was inspired by the mountains of Montserrat that surround Barcelona, and by the shape of a geyser of water rising into the air. Jean Nouvel, in an interview, described it as having a phallic character.[5][6] As a result of its unusual shape, the building is known by several nicknames, such as "el supositorio" (the suppository), "l'obús" (the shell) and some more scatological ones.[5] 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[7] and consists of 38 storeys, 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 unique feature of the building is its nocturnal illumination. It has 4,500 LED luminous devices that allow generation of luminous images in the facade. In addition, it has temperature sensors in the outside of the tower that regulate the opening and closing of the glass blinds of the facade of the building, reducing the consumption of energy for air conditioning. It will house the head office of the Aigües de Barcelona Group (Spanish: "Aguas de Barcelona", English: "Barcelona Water Company").
[edit] Gallery
Barcelona125.jpg
Torre Agbar |
Torre agbar barcelone.jpg
Torre Agbar, 12 September 2007 |
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Torre-agbar.jpg
Detail of Torre Agbar |
Alain Robert - 001.jpg
Alain Robert climbing Torre Agbar, 9 October 2007 |
Barcelona546.jpg
Torre Agbar by night |
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Torre-agbar-nit.jpg
Torre Agbar by night, 3 February 2007 |
[edit] See also
- 30 St Mary Axe, also known as "The Gherkin", and occasionally as The Swiss Re Tower, is an architecturally similar building in London which opened a year and a half earlier, in April 2004.
[edit] External links
- Torre Agbar collection of articles.
- Torre Agbar web page (Macromedia Flash)
[edit] References
- ^ "Torre Agbar - SkyscraperPage.com." Accessed 14 November, 2007.
- ^ "Torre Agbar - Emporis.com." Accessed 14 November, 2007.
- ^ "Arquitectura Barcelona, Torre Agbar." Accessed 14 November, 2007.
- ^ Structurae database
- ^ a b Notícias Agbar (Includes interview with Jean Nouvel) quote from the Jean Nouvel interview: In Torre Agbar call the suppository. What do you think? ¡Normal! But I am sure that his phallic character will be diluted when finished. What characterized the tower will be a big vibration of light. Lovers of the mottoes you find another name, sure. [sic] (Translation by Google)
- ^ El gran supositorio Article by El Pais, quote: The suppository of Agbar rises to the heavens quickly (Translation by Google)
- ^ Torre agbar homepage
| Preceded by Highcliff (Hong Kong, China) | Emporis Skyscraper Award (Silver) 2004 | Succeeded by Q1 Tower (Gold Coast, Australia) |
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| Parks: | Laberint d'Horta · Parc de les Aigües | |
| Zoos: | Aquarium Barcelona · Parc Zoològic de Barcelona | |
| Beaches: | Barceloneta beach · Bogatell beach · Mar Bella beach · Nova Icària beach · Nova Mar Bella beach · Sant Sebastià beach | |
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