Torre Agbar
| Torre Agbar | |
|---|---|
Torre Agbar, 10 February 2011
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| General information | |
| Type | Office, conference |
| Location | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Coordinates | 41°24′12″N 02°11′22″E / 41.40333°N 2.18944°ECoordinates: 41°24′12″N 02°11′22″E / 41.40333°N 2.18944°E |
| Construction started | 1999 |
| Completed | 2004 |
| Opening | June 2005 |
| Cost | US$130,000,000 |
| Owner | Grupo Agbar |
| Height | |
| Roof | 144.44 m (473.88 ft) |
| Top floor | 128.3 m (421 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 33 |
| Floor area | 51,483 m2 (554,158 sq ft) |
| Lifts/elevators | 9 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Jean Nouvel and Fermín Vázquez |
| Structural engineer | Brufau & A. Obiol |
| Awards and prizes |
International Highrise Award 2006 |
| References | |
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The Torre Agbar (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈtorə əɡˈbar]) is a 38-story skyscraper/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, Catalonia, Spain. It was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel in association with the Spanish firm b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos and built by Dragados. The Torre Agbar is located in the Poblenou neighbourhood 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 m2 (545,650 sq ft), of which 30,000 m2 (320,000 sq ft) are offices, 3,210 m2 (34,600 sq ft) technical facilities, 8,132 m2 (87,530 sq ft) services, including an auditorium, and 9,132 m2 (98,300 sq ft) parking space. It cost €130 million to build.
It opened in June 2005 and was officially opened by King Juan Carlos I on 16 September 2005. It is one in a collection of high-tech architecture examples in Barcelona.
The building is owned by the multinational group Agbar, which has its corporate headquarters in the building and which takes up most of the floors, renting the remainder. The Agbar Tower was acquired in March 2010 for 165 million euros, after reaching an agreement with its former owner, the investment group Azurelau. Azurelau had previously bought the property in mid-2007. The purchase price was not disclosed.
According to Jean Nouvel, Torre Agbar is intended to recall the shape of a geyser rising into the air. It was inspired by Montserrat, a mountain near Barcelona. In an interview, he described the tower 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". The Agbar Tower measures 144.4 m (473 ft 9 in) in height and consists of 38 storeys, including four underground levels.
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