Torre Agbar – The Newest Barcelona Architectural Icon

I know if I were an architect given the honor to construct a building in Barcelona I would feel a bit of pressure considering the city’s architectural past. Gaudi is a hard act to follow and many architects from all over Europe have come here to forge their careers inspired by the amazing Modernist-styled structures that blanket the city.

Many do a variety of local residential and corporate jobs however in recent history very few have been presented with the chance to make their lasting mark in stone, steel and lights on a city let alone a city that is known for its builders and designers except for Jean Nouvel and Santiago Calatrava.

Mr. Calatrava is responsible for ‘’La Vela’’ as it is called in Barcelona, which is actually the newest W Hotel property that juts out into the sea resembling a behemoth glistening sail of a ship. It’s a sight to see although many detractors complained that it would ruin the skyline. However I don’t want to waste more lines on The W since this article is dedicated to French architect, Jean Nouvel’s design of the Torre Agbar, which has been given the title as the new modern architectural symbol of Barcelona.

The word ‘’modern’’ is used so as not to obviously compete with the numero uno icon, La Sagrada Familia, although Nouvel states there is a strong reference in the design to the bell towers of Gaudi’s sacred cathedral. Additionally from the north side of building, it is said the unobstructed view of the Sagrada Familia was also a design feature of the architectural plan.

The Torre Agbar is 34-story domed skyscraper that stands guard over the gateway of Barcelona’s new technological and business district known as 22@. Subsequently it has become a symbol of the new progressive Barcelona and an emblem of the neighborhood as well as the city.

It stands at 142m coming in as the third tallest building after Hotel Arts and the Mapfre Tower in Port Olympico. But what it may lose in scale to these rascacielos (skyscrapers) it makes up in design.

It consists of: two concentric cylinder forms made of reinforced concrete, covered with a layer of polished aluminum and a second layer of glass giving it a shimmery affect. 4,349 window openings are cut into the structural concrete and the whole structure is topped off with a dome construction of glass and steel.

There are no inner structural columns but instead a central emergency stairwell and elevator shaft that runs vertically in the central core of the building. And by the way, the windows have cantilevered blinds that open and close by a regulator that is directly connected to temperature sensors on the outside of the building resulting in a more economical usage of energy for air conditioning.

Strangely this futuristic structure that has obvious phallic overtones is the headquarters of Aguas Barcelona, the municipal water company and not some cutting edge software or IT company. But as Nouvel explains again he wasn’t going after your typical skyscraper and wanted to give an impression of a landmass emerging from the earth like the mountains of the nearby Montserrat. For him, its also metaphor of a geyser shooting up from the earth as he was keeping in mind that the tower was to be the future home of city’s water company.

Beyond the metaphors and perhaps the rather vague inspirations Nouvel had when developing the design, the tower is an impressive sight and its structural details are one to marvel at, especially at night when its façade is aglow with 4,500 LED lights in yellow, blue, pink and red. The high-tech lighting system has the ability to create over 16 million colors. At sunset from just about anywhere in Barcelona the Torre Agbar with its glowing psychedelic outer shell looks like an alien space ship landing in the surrounding dark nightscape. Because it is so easily seen, I have often used it as a directional landmark.

But more than a landmark, it has become a universally used symbol indentifying the city by locals and by those from outside the region and even outside of Spain. It’s become so popular that it’s now a regular stop on the tour bus route and in 2008 various Catalan public institutions voted to have it included in the production of iconic souvenirs of the city. It is also said that with its internationally notoriety, the Torre Agbar has started to appear on televised New Year celebrations along with other famous destinations like the Opera House in Sydney, The Eiffel Tower in Paris and Times Square in New York.

Fun facts about the Torre Agbar
-250,000 kg of steel were used in the construction of the tower
-25,000 m3 of concrete were used to build the two cylindrical forms
-59,619 sheets of glass cover the entire outer façade of the tower
-4,500 windows
- The very top floor in the tower’s dome allows visitors a panoramic view of the city
-1170 workers were responsible for the design and construction of the Torre Agbar
-The construction took 6 years to complete starting in 1999 and ending in 2005
-The King of Spain flew to Barcelona to officially inaugurate the opening of the building
-The whole project to build the Torre Agbar totaled 130 million Euros

What’s Happening in November

Here are our picks for the top activities for the month of November.

All Saints Day November 1
Today is a national holiday in Spain in honor of the Roman Catholic holiday that celebrates all saints, those known and unknown.

La Castanyada November 1
In honor of All Saints day, Barcelona residents celebrate by eating roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes and panellets (small, sweet balls of baked dough with ground almonds layered with pine nuts) while washing it all down with Muscatel. This of course takes place after a visit to the church when families and friends gather together for a big meal.

Barcelona International Jazz Festival November 11 – December 2
This is one of Europe’s top-rated jazz symposiums that gathers every year renowned performers and musicians. This year the jazz event will culminate in 70 performers from world class acts like Jamie Colum to Sonny Rollins and Chick Corea to Chucho Valdes. Concerts will be hosted at 15 different locations throughout the city. There will also be various other fringe events free for the whole family.
For more information on the concert schedule, locations and tickets visit: barcelonajazzfestival.com

World Architecture Festival 2010 (WAF) November 3 – 5
For one short weekend Barcelona once again becomes the epicenter of modern architectural design when the WAF arrives to the Barcelona International Convention Center. This 3-day event sheds light on architectural advancements that are taking place on a global scale with participants from over 100 countries showcasing their latest works. At the core of the convention is its grand awards program, which includes the revered Architectural Prix de Barcelona—‘’Best in Show’’ prize. Attendees can look forward to presentations, interactive seminars, networking events and much more.
For more information on the program of events and entrance passes log onto: worldarchitecturefestival.com

CCIB Forum (Centro de Convenciones Internacionales de Barcelona
Rambla Prim 1-7

Disney Live – Mickey’s Music Festival November 3 – 7

Just in case you haven’t visited any of the Euro-Disney sites you are in luck because Mickey and his pals are hitting the road and are bringing a little magic to BCN for a 5-day performance. Stars from your or your child’s favorite movies like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Toy Story will be performing. Surely this will be a fun night out for the whole family.
Palau Sant Jordi Sports Arena
Passeig Olimpic - Montjuic
Admission: 22€ - 33€
Time: 6:30pm
To purchase tickets visit servicaixa.com

Fira Mediterraneo 2010 November 4 – 7

Celebrating the fine traditions of Catalan folk and dramatic arts, Mediterrania promises four fun days of music, theatre and dance performances that will delight the whole family. The festival takes places just outside the Barcelona city limits and easily reached via train.

For more information on the program schedule, performance locations and costs visit: firamediterrania.cat (be aware that the site is only in Catalan!)
Costs for tickets to various performance range for 5€ for a single entrance up to 24€ for multiple entrances.

Cirque du Soleil - Varekai November 5 – December 12

Cirque du Soleil performance is a yearly occurrence in Barcelona and although every fall the talented troupe of acrobats, performers and contortionists can be expected their shows are always beyond belief and worth seeing time after time. Its also one of those rare shows where mom, dad and the kids will be equally entertained.

Plataforma Zoo Marino – Under the White Big Top
Avenida Litoral s/n (corner of Calle Josep Pla, next to the Forum)
Admission: 24.50€ - 195€
To purchase tickets and information on show times visit: cirquedusoleil.com and search for Barcelona, Spain program.

Barcelona International Boat Show November 6 – November 14

Barcelona has a long seafaring history and strong nautical ties therefore its no wonder that its annual Boat Show, now in its 49th edition is considered one of Europe’s top three with regards to quality and attendance. Boat lovers wont want to miss out on the numerous activities and a chance to see some of the sharpest biggest or fastest boats on the market today.

Floating Exhibition at Port Vell Marina
Regular Exhibition at Fira Gran Via Exhibition Centre
Calle del Botanica 62

For more information on the program events log onto: salonnautico.com

Blind Guardian Concert November 6

Heavy metal music heads get prepared for Germany’s leading metal band of the 80’s to rip the roof off Sant Jordi Club here in Barcelona playing hits that were to become classics in the cannon of power metal and speed metal subgenres.

Sant Jordi Club (venue attached to the Pala Sant Jordi Sport Arena)
Passeig Olimpic – Montjuic
Time: 7pm
Admission: 24€
To purchase tickets log onto: ticktackticket.com

LCD Soundsystem Concert November 6

If you are a dance music fan then LCD Soundsystem needs no introduction and you better get yourself a ticket to see James Murphy spin his latest club anthems from his 2010 release ‘’ This is Happening’’ at Razzmatazz.

Sala Razzmatazz
Calle Almogavers 122
Time: 7:30pm
Admission: 30€

To purchase tickets go to: ticktackticket.com

Pope Benedict XVI Visit November 7

The Pope is coming to town. Nothing more needs to be said except he will preside over the consecration of the Sagrada Familia. 6,000 spectators are expected to attend the service within the cathedral while 36,000 extra seats will be made available surrounding the church so spectators can watch the activities on big jumbotron screens outdoors. Off all days to visit the Sagrada Familia this might be THE day to do so. If somehow you can’t get past the 11-block radius around the church, which will be closed to motorized traffic you can still catch a glimpse of ‘’El Papa’’ in the Popemobile along his route through Barcelona.

Sagrada Familia
Plaza de la Sagrada Familia
Mass: 10am
Visit to Barcelona ‘’Obra Benefco-Social Nen Deu: 5:15pm
Farewell Ceremony at El Prat Airport: 6:30pm

Glenn Miller Orchestra Barcelona November 7

The ever-popular Glenn Miller Orchestra led by the director Ray McVay comes back to Barcelona to perform its signature big band sound at the grand Palau de la Musica. The present band, which was formed in 1956 has been touring the globe consistently since its inception and is considered the best jazz/swing big bands to date with an average of 300 engagements a year.

Palau de la Musica Catalana Concert Hall
Calle del Palau de la Musica 4-6
Time: 6pm
Admission: 32€ - 65€
To purchase tickets go to: servicaixa.es

Caminada Montjuic November 14

So you aren’t a fan of running. No big deal. Any physical therapist or sports doctor will admit that over the long term running is hard on the joints and walking is a good alternative. Therefore why note lace up her walking shoes and join an informal group of walkers for a 10k stroll around Montjuic. It’s not a bad way to start off a Sunday.

No registrations required. Just show up and walk!
Start Location - Parc de les Tres Xemeneies (between Pasaje de la Canadenca and Calle Palaudaries)
Start Time: 9:30am

Freestyle Masters MX Barcelona 2010 November 14

Prepare yourself for a wicked and wild freestyle motocross show when the best riders come to the Palau Sant Jordi Arena to strut their stuff. It’s almost guaranteed you’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat as these young daredevils perform spectacular stunts and tricks in mid-air risking life and limb.

Palau Sant Jordi
Passeig Olimpic – Montjuic
Time: 6pm
Admission: 30€
To purchase tickets visit: servicaixa.com

Marathon Horror Movie Festival November 15 – 20

Boo! Halloween is over however there is still something eerie in the air thanks to this weeklong scary film fest. Gore lovers and scream freaks will be thrilled with the hair-raising program of independent short film and full-length features that are scheduled to be shown during the festival.

Cotxeres Civic Center
Calle de Sants 0079

To see program of show times and other events log onto: cotxeres.org (website is in Catalan)

Primal Scream Concert November 20

Scottish rock band with front man Bobby Gillespie will be in Barcelona to perform their 1991 classic album Screamadelica for the first time in over twenty years. A music event not to be missed by die hard fans.

Sala Razzmatazz
Calle Almogavers 122
Time: 8pm
Tickets: 35€
To purchase tickets visit: ticktackticket.com

Stand-Up Comedy – Sean Walsh November 20

Going to the theatre or watching a comedy show in a language other than your native tongue is not advisable which is why we rarely suggest visitors attend local performances but English speakers who enjoy a good laugh might want to check out Sean Walsh when he comes to town. Sponsored by the Giggling Guiri Barcelona comedy club, this English comedian has won several comedic awards and earned some of the biggest laughs over the last year throughout the UK.

Café Teatro Llantiol
Calle de la Riereta 7
Time: 10:30 pm (doors open at 10pm)
Admission: 17€
To purchase tickets go to: comedyinspain.com

Arcade Fire Concert November 21

Indie rock-band Arcade Fire, whom have won numerous awards for albums ‘’Funeral’’, ‘’Neon Bible’’ and their latest release ‘’The Suburbs’’ comes to Barcelona for a one-night engagement all the way from their hometown of Canada. The husband and wife duo that fronts the 5-person band is known for using a multitude of traditional and non-traditional instruments in their music and will surely have them on hand for this special performance at the Palau Sant Jordi.

Palau Sant Jordi Arena
Passeig Olimpic – Montjuic
Time: 9:30pm
Admission: 35€
To purchase tickets visit: ticktacktickets.com

Alice Cooper Concert November 23

Mr. Cooper, the hard rocker who invented the concept of rock concert as theatre returns to the stage with his signature creepy face paint to perform songs from his latest studio album, ‘’Along Came a Spider.’’ He will visit Barcelona, his second stop on the Spanish leg of his Theatre of Death Tour.

Sant Jordi Club (venue attached to the Pala Sant Jordi Sport Arena)
Passeig Olimpic – Montjuic
Time: 7pm
Admission: 36€
To purchase tickets go to: ticktackticket.com

Primavera Club 2010 November 24 – 28

The winter version of the Spring music festival is back again for its 5th year bringing together over 60 bands to play at seven different concert venues throughout the city over the course of five days.

Venue Locations: Sala Apolo, La 2 de Apolo, Bikini, Moog, Cabaret Berlin, Monasterio and Casino L’Aliança Poblenou

Visit primaverasound.com for program schedule and ticket information.

Shakira Concert November 24

Known for her hip shaking and unique voice the 4-time Grammy award winner superstar will make a stop in Barcelona on her ‘’The Sun Comes Out World Tour’’ to perform new hits like ‘’Loca’’ and the 2010 World Cup Anthem ‘’Waka Waka’’ along with all time favorites. A preeminent performer, songstress and musician Shakira in concert is not to be missed.

Palau St. Jordi Arena
Passeig Olimpic –Montjuic
Time: 8:15pm
Tickets: 45€ - 60€
To purchase tickets visit: ticktacktickets.com

Suede Concert November 26

Breaking into the British music scene in 1992, Suede was later accredited with creating the Britpop movement and giving new life to the English rock. The band over the years released 4 hit albums with their 5th and latest album being released this year after the band reformed from their 2005 split. Suede fans now is your chance to see the band back to together again after a 5-year hiatus.

Sala Razzmatazz
Calle Almogavers
Time: 8pm
Admission: 30€
To purchase tickets go to: ticktacktickets.com

Christmas Market November 27 – December 23

At the end of November signs of the Christmas holiday start popping up all over town with the largest being La Feria de Santa Lucia. Mom and pop vendors set up stalls taking over the Cathedral Square selling Christmas decorations, crafts and tiny figures to construct homemade nativity scenes, which is a favored tradition in Spain during the holiday season.

Avenida de la Catedral (In the plaza in front of the Gothic Cathedral)

November Football Matches at Camp Nou, Calle Aristides Maillol
FC Barcelona vs. AD Ceuta November 11
FC Barcelona vs. Villareal November 14
FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid November 28
Ticket Prices: 32€ to 102€; to purchase go to www.fcbarcelona.cat

El Parc del Forum Barcelona

The Forum Park as it is called in English is situated at the far north end of Barcelona in the neighborhood of Diagonal Mar. Depending on what brings you to the city, business or pleasure, you might have some reason to visit The Park, that is more like a mini-campus consisting of several indoor and outdoor spaces that play host to all kinds of events throughout the year.

Originally the location was constructed for the ‘’Universal Forum of Cultures’’ exhibition that took place in 2004. The main building that has become a city architectural landmark is the Forum Building designed by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Mueron.

The long triangular structure that stands 25 meters high, 180 meters wide on each side is unquestionably visually striking however its notoriety isn’t based on its aesthetic alone.

From the very start of project proposal there were many detractors of the design and questions were raised of its functionality that drove a fierce divide between residents and local politicians. Furthermore the 110,000,000€ construction was plagued with flaws and set-backs that the Spanish national press as well as foreign media covered throughout the whole process leading up to the controversial 2004 conference that was billed as the world’s first ‘’Cultural Olympics’’. Somehow the building was completed and opened its doors with an official inauguration by King Juan Carlos of Spain that came specifically to open the 5-month long cultural extravaganza.

It was reported that more than 5 million visitors, including leading world figures such as the Dalai Lama, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and other popular music and film stars attend, spoke or performed at the many events of the convention.

Today inside the Forum Building visitors can see the ‘’Barcelona Sensations’’ and ‘’Barcelona Project’’ displays in its permanent exhibition hall. The actual interior spaces of the structure are built around a large auditorium that has the capacity to hold 3200 people with below street-level seating. Now it used for large-scale events throughout the year.

The Bath Zone is an area totally unique to the Parc del Forum. It is a ‘’new beach concept’’ in that there is no sand to be seen but a slanted concrete promenade with steps that lead into the sea, which has been harnessed to create bathing areas protected from the surf. Large concrete platforms jut out into the calm sea that are perfecting for diving off of. Imagine sunbathers on the River Seine, if you may but the setting is more modern industrial than quaint Parisian. This picturesque location has been used for jazz concerts, private summer celebrations and is a common location for photo shoots too. When its not being rented, the swimming area is open to the public during the summer.

Another watery destination at the Parc del Forum is actually a boat marina, commonly called the Port Forum. This is a year around working port where private yacht owners come to store, dock and/or have repairs completed. Additionally there are yacht rental companies just in case you don’t own your own big boat. Furthermore, there is a private yacht club that can also be rented for special events upon request. However the Port Forum is actually its own private entity and is only associated with the Parc del Forum because of its location and name.

The Esplanade is an immense outdoor space with a concrete surface that has a spectacular view of the ‘’Bath Zone’’ area and the ‘’Forum Port’’. This section of The Forum is frequently used for trade fairs and music festivals that are ideal for an open-air setup. La Feria de Abril (a culture fair celebrating customs from Andalusia) and Primavera Sound (a major music festival), for example are two major festivals that year after year come to the Esplanade.

The other main outdoor concert space at El Parc del Forum is the Auditorium Park. The Grand Auditorium and Small Auditorium are two outdoor amphitheatres with stadium seating and grassy areas that many event organizers find inspiring to use for theatrical presentations, fairs and even open-air dinners.

In spite of its far out location, arriving to The Forum is easy with the metro, trams and buses that deliver you almost to its doorstep. Likewise, a novel way of traveling there is via the Golondorina ferry where you can board at the Plaza de Colon (located at the end of La Rambla). This will take you just about the same time (20 to 30 minutes) that it would commuting by bus or train from the center of town.

Visiting this area now that it has been completely gentrified with top rate hotels, a luxury high-rise penthouse buildings and fancy shopping mall, its hard to imagine it was once a run down water front and crime-ridden area that locals let alone visitors would steer clear of. With the help of $2.6 billion it’s a high-profile area for business conventions and congresses as well as tourism.

El Parc del Forum
Avenida Diagonal 1

Plaza España - From Past to Present

Wandering the streets of Barcelona you are bound to come across more than a few squares and plazas. The city is patched together with these small and sometimes grand spaces where a maze of side-streets or major avenues converge to create a quaint meeting place at the heart of a tiny neighborhood or a crucial crossroad for urban traffic. Plaza Espana just by the sheer size of the roundabout is a prime example of the later version.

Plaza España is one of Barcelona’s largest junctures connecting several main city thoroughfares that include: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Avenida Parallel and Calle Tarragona. It is also the gateway to Montjuic and Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina, which is the main pathway that leads traffic into the fairgrounds of La Fira de Barcelona straight up to the regal Palau Nacional & Museu Nacional d’Art de Cataluyna (houses an extensive collection of Romanesque and historic Catalonian art).

 Therefore while visiting Barcelona it is highly likely that you’ll make your way to Plaza Espana whether it be for a convention at the Fira, to visit the numerous cultural spaces such as the Fundacion Joan Miro or the plethora of gardens on Montjuic hill. In fact, for first time visitors, many of whom aren’t familiar with the city, don’t realize the first major sight to greet them as they enter the inner city from the outskirts where El Prat airport is located is Plaza Espana.

Historically the location of the square was the gruesome sight of public hangings, which was later moved to the now dismantled Ciutadella fortress in 1715. However the proposal for its design was brought on by a more uplifting pursuit, that of the 1929 Universal Exhibition. With plans for the expo to take place in Montjuic the city was required to invest in urban development of the immediate district and adjacent areas as well as renovate public spaces, which fundamentally meant Plaza Espana. The revised layout of Plaza Espana was completed in 1915 although construction didn’t start till almost 14 years later on the heels of the commencement of the expo. Since then, the plaza has been in public use.

Unlike Plaza Cataluyna for example, which caters to pedestrians, Plaza Espana is primarily a large roundabout designed for motorized traffic so crossing through the square on foot is impossible. Pedestrians have to circumvent the square walking along the sidewalks that boarder the circular route where cars and motorists weave in and out of lanes maneuvering to their exit.

 This is a bit of a let down because the primary architectural detail attributed to the Plaza is an ornate fountain with the requisite mythological statues, columns and cascading water that you would expect for a grand square is in the center of the roundabout. Very few have ventured to the grassy mote that surrounds the fountain when open to traffic because it’s a death wish trying to make it in. The only time anyone can think about getting an up close look at the work designed by Josep Maria Jujol (Catalan architect that collaborated with Antoni Gaudi on many of his most famous works such as Casa Batllo) is when it is closed to motorized traffic.

From street-level the best way to appreciate Plaza Espana’s architectural details is to walk the large circle or better yet, take a few spins around the roundabout. The less dangerous to inspect and possibly overall the least interesting architectural structures that sits at the southeast side of the plaza are the Venetian Towers. Two on either side of Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina, they stand at 154 feet tall and announce the formal entrance to the La Fira de Barcelona and Montjuic.

However crossing over Avenida Parallel just to the right of the Towers is the Arena de Barcelona bullring. Now this is a cool building built in 1900 in the style of Moorish Revival. It reminds me a bit of the Coliseum in Rome on a much, much smaller scale and all of it is in tact. Today there aren’t any bullfights held there as the building is being converted into a major shopping center.

In my personal opinion the best way to appreciate the immensity of Plaza Espana is high above from the steps of the Palau Nacional. The vantage point is unbeatable giving you a clear view of Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina with the Fira buildings on either side on down to the Plaza and across the whole city to the mountains of Tibidabo.

At night the view is spectacular as the normally drab Plaza is aglow in incandescent light. The Venetian towers, the street lamps that circle the plaza and lanterns in the central fountain are all lit up. If you time it perfectly, you can watch the Font de Magica show at dusk during the summer season and the lights and music turns the visiting Plaza Espana into more of fantastical experience.

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