{"id":18921,"date":"2022-04-28T20:46:03","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T18:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/barcelona-top-travel-tips.com\/?p=18921"},"modified":"2023-08-31T10:33:45","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T08:33:45","slug":"agbar-tower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barcelona-top-travel-tips.com\/agbar-tower\/","title":{"rendered":"The Agbar Tower (or Gl\u00f2ries Tower): an emblematic skyscraper in Barcelona"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since 2005, the astonishing silhouette of the Agbar Tower has stood out in the urban landscape of Barcelona. Designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel in collaboration with the Spaniard Ferm\u00edn V\u00e1squez, this singularly shaped tower has become one of the icons of the Catalan capital<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agbar Tower or Gl\u00f2ries Tower?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Designed to be the headquarters of the water company of Barcelona (Aguas de Barcelona), this architectural masterpiece is known as the Agbar Tower. The first letters: Ag <\/strong>for Aguas and Bar <\/strong>for Barcelona eventually formed its name: Torre Agbar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the Barcelona water company no longer owns it, it was renamed the Gl\u00f2ries Tower because of its location near the square of the same name, in the 22@, Barcelona\u2019s technological district. But few people call it that. For many Barcelonans, it remains the Agbar Tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tower was to become a luxury hotel of the Hyatt chain, but the estimated cost of converting its offices into hotel rooms was too high and the project was abandoned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The history of the Agbar Tower or Gl\u00f2ries Tower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Where does its amazing design come from?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"glories
Montserrat and Sagrada Familia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jean Nouvel, a fervent admirer of Antoni Gaud\u00ed<\/a>‘s genius, wanted the shape of the Agbar Tower to echo that of the towers of the Sagrada Familia<\/a><\/strong>. Like Gaud\u00ed, the French architect was also inspired by the rounded curves of Montserrat<\/a><\/strong>, a famous mountain range located about 60 kilometres from Barcelona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean Nouvel identifies his architectural work as “a fluid mass that gushes from the ground like a geyser under a permanent and calculated pressure.”<\/strong> This idea is reinforced by the colours of the Agbar Tower: for the floors close to the ground, a range of red ochre which, towards the top of the tower, turns blue to blend in with the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the design of the Agbar Tower has given rise to many controversies and is not always unanimously accepted. Its shape is often compared to that of a suppository, a shell, or an erected phallus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some, the Agbar Tower is like a huge gherkin because it looks surprisingly like another skyscraper nicknamed “The Gherkin” by Londoners<\/strong>: the “30 St Mary Axe” completed in 2004 and located in the business district of London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of the positive or negative opinions, the Agbar Tower has become an unavoidable symbol of Barcelona<\/strong> that visitors from all over the world are eager to discover and see up close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agbar Tower: construction and description<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"agbar<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It took 6 years to build this tower<\/strong> with its innovative and extremely complex structure. The work lasted from 1999 to 2005<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Agbar Tower is 144 meters high<\/strong>. Of its 38 floors, 4 are underground. After the Mapfre Tower and the Hotel Arts de la Barceloneta<\/a>, it is the third highest skyscraper in Barcelona<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last six floors of the tower narrow to form a 30-meter-high dome made of 250,000 kilos of steel and glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its cylindrical shape, designed without a main fa\u00e7ade, allows all the surrounding parts of the city to be seen in an identical way from its 4949 randomly distributed windows<\/strong>. The windows facing the Sagrada Familia have no transoms<\/strong> to allow Gaud\u00ed\u2019s masterpiece to be admired from the Agbar Tower.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its concrete structure is covered with coloured aluminium plates and glass slats of various inclinations that allow the tower to change colour depending on the season or time of day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit to the Gl\u00f2ries Tower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Good news! Since June 2022, it has been possible to explore the interior of the Gl\u00f2ries Tower<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We took the tour as soon as it opened and really enjoyed the experience<\/strong>. We highly recommend this original and informative visit, which is divided into three parts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hyper-Viewpoint<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"hyper<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Located in the basement of the tower<\/strong>, the Hyper-Viewpoint is a remarkable space made up of several rooms<\/strong> that allow you to take the pulse of Barcelona and its surroundings<\/strong> in an innovative and original way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aesthetic and artistic installations<\/strong> in this museum are crafted from real-time data collected about Barcelona<\/strong>. The Catalan capital is thus portrayed as a living organism, whose pulse beats to the rhythm of interactions between visible and invisible human and non-human inhabitants.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"designBook your ticket to visit the Gl\u00f2ries Tower<\/span>Click here<\/span><\/a> <\/div>\n\n\n

The 360\u00ba Viewpoint<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"glories<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You’ll reach the viewpoint on the 30th floor of the tower in just a few seconds via a very modern lift<\/strong>. From this high vantage point, and through the building’s characteristic glass slats, you can enjoy a 360\u00ba view of the whole of Barcelona<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"designBook your ticket to visit the Gl\u00f2ries Tower<\/span>Click here<\/span><\/a> <\/div>\n\n\n

Cloud Cities: A Stunning Climbable Sculpture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"cloud<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our favourite part is optional<\/strong>. It involves climbing an impressive sculpture by artist Tom\u00e1s Saraceno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you wish, you can do as we did and climb through this unique structure made of taut cables<\/strong>. Take your time to savour the experience and take breaks in some of its 113 metallic cloud spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will need to deposit all your personal belongings in lockers<\/strong> and wear a blue suit provided by the tower staff. Only your mobile phone can be slipped into a strap that you will attach around your neck to prevent it from falling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This third part of the visit is a really fun experience<\/strong>. It does require good physical condition<\/strong>. Go prepared with comfortable clothes and closed sports shoes<\/strong>. Yes, it’s quite athletic but totally doable. We wholeheartedly recommend it; it’s very enjoyable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access is not allowed for individuals under 16, pregnant women, the elderly, those with limited mobility, those suffering from vertigo, those who are intoxicated, or anyone else who might put their health at risk. You will be asked to respect the decision of the tower staff.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"designBook your ticket to visit the Gl\u00f2ries Tower<\/span>Click here<\/span><\/a> <\/div>\n\n\n

Illumination of the Agbar Tower at night<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"agbar<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

At night, the Agbar Tower shines with a thousand lights!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The skilful orchestration of the 4,500 LED devices<\/strong> on its fa\u00e7ade allows the replication, at a very low cost, of 16 million colours that can change hue<\/strong>, thus creating stunning lighting effects.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illumination schedule<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The tower is illuminated every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n