6.2 Torre Agbar
Torre Agbar, Barcelona, Spain by Jean Nouvel
The Torre Agbar was designed by Jean Nouvel. 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 4,400 window openings cut out of the structural concrete. A unique feature of the building is its nocturnal illumination. It has more than 4,000 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.
The reinforced-concrete structure, crowned by a glass and steel dome, has a multi-colored facade of aluminum panels, behind glass louvers, in 25 different colors.
Photo ©Thomas Mayer
Photo ©Thomas Mayer
There are 4,400 windows and 56,619 transparent and translucent glass plates. The louvres are tilted at different angles calculated to deflect the direct sun light.
Photo ©Thomas Mayer
Photo ©Thomas Mayer
Elliptical in plan the 31 floors are without internal columns, the perimetric structure and the central concrete core, containing the services and emergency stairwells, are the important elements of the building. Six lift shafts rise up inside the outer walls.
Photo ©Thomas Mayer
4,500 yellow, blue, pink and red lights, placed over the facade, illuminate the tower at night.
Photo ©Thomas Mayer
Image courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel
Plan 25th Floor (Drawing courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel)
Plan 29th Floor (Drawing courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel)
Plan 31st Floor (Drawing courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel)
Section (Drawing courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel)
At the Agbar Tower, practically and design are fused together with building materials and elements that respect the environment.
- 4,500 windows designed to achieve natural ventilation and to make the most of sunlight and reduce energy costs.
- No materials are used that contain formaldehyde, asbestos or lead, especially in paints.
- The air flow is regulated by means of the double glazing in the dome, which allows natural ventilation.
- Reduction in the building’s temperature thanks to the chamber of air formed between the two skins, favouring ventilation.
- Optimisation of elevator routes using a computer system to avoid unnecessary consumption and ensure service for people with special needs.
- Specific areas will be allocated and adapted for bicycle parking.
- The proportion of energy gain with respect to incident solar radiation reaches an average of 25.11%.
- Coolant gases are used that do not contain CFC’s to avoid damaging the ozone layer.
- Phreatic water is used for secondary applications (cleaning paving and ornamentation) in order to save water.
Bioclimatic Architecture
Bioclimatic Architecture aims to optimise the Man-Climate relationship via architectural means. This is architecture adapted to the environment to its impact of nature and minimising environmental contamination. It takes advantage of the surrounding climate and conditions in order to achieve significant reductions in energy consumption and to improve the quality of life of the building’s users.
Bioclimatic Architecture proposes:
- regulate the air flow
- takes advantage of sunlight and the building’s condition
- uses insulating, recyclable and non-contaminating materials
- chooses the most efficient energy equipment
- includes the use of renewable energy sources in the design
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torre_Agbar, http://www.torreagbar.com/home.asp & http://www.arcspace.com/architects/nouvel/agbar/agbar.html)
