Torre Agbar

The Torre Agbar, or Agbar Tower, is a 33-story tower at Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel in association with the Spanish firm b720 Arquitectos and built by Dragados. It opened in June 2005 and was inaugurated officially by the King of Spain on 16 September 2005. 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.

Design

According to Jean Nouvel, the shape of the Torre Agbar was inspired by Montserrat, 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 blinds 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.

Gallery

In popular culture

The Torre Agbar is a featured locale in the 2009 video game Wheelman, published by Midway Games.

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.
  • Alain Robert, a famous climber who has scaled the building.

References

External links

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Oh-Barcelona.com
22 May 2013
A rainbow behind the Torre Agbar. It's as colourful as when the tower is lit up at night!
Nasser Bader
17 March 2015
Amazing design I think it is one of the best places to visit in Barcelona Catalynya Spain ????????
Mika V
1 September 2013
Keep in mind, that night lighting of the Torre Agbar is illuminated until midnight, and after, illumination is switched off. Do not be late, to made a grate pics!
joanpccom
20 August 2014
Construida en 2005 la Torre Agbar ha pasado a ser un icono de la ciudad de BCN, edificio futurista de 34 plantas y 4000 luces led es mejor visitarlo de noche, esta iluminado que es como hay que verlo.
David Borrallo
30 October 2014
Precioso edificio para ver de noche. Muy curioso porque cuando sales del metro te lo encuentras de frente. Al lado están construyendo el Museo del Diseño, y muy cerca está el CC Glories
Duygu Şentürk
4 January 2017
Yine görmek icin aksamı beklemeniz gereken bi güzellik
Load more comments
foursquare.com
6.0/10
16,781 people have been here

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Cram Hotel

starting $242

Uma Suites Luxury Midtown

starting $197

Hostal Barcelona Travel

starting $123

Sweet Inn Apartment - Aragon

starting $148

Casa del Mediterraneo

starting $0

Casa Kessler Barcelona Hostel

starting $26

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Design Museum of Barcelona

The Museu del Disseny de Barcelona (Catalan naming, English: 'Design

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Teatre Nacional de Catalunya

Teatre Nacional de Catalunya (TNC) (Шаблон:IPA-ca, English. Natio

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Sagrada Família

The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (official Catalan name;

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Arc de Triomf

The Arc de Triomf (English: Triumphal Arch) is an archway structure in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Hospital de Sant Pau

The present Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (Catalan for Hospital

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Parc de la Ciutadella

The Parc de la Ciutadella (Catalan pronunciation: ]; 'Citadel

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Nova Icària Beach (Platja de la Nova Icària)

Nova Icària Beach (Platja de la Nova Icària) is a tourist a

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Barcelona Zoo

Barcelona Zoo (Parc Zoològic de Barcelona in Catalan, Parque

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia is the central government

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
7 World Trade Center

7 World Trade Center is a building in New York City located across

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Aon Center (Chicago)

The Aon Center (200 East Randolph Street, formerly Amoco Building) is

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
D1 (building)

D1 (meaning Dubai Number One) is an 80-floor residential skyscraper

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Almas Tower

Almas Tower (Arabic: برج الماس‎ Diamond Tower) is a supertall

See all similar places