Jean Nouvel – Agbar Tower

The shape of the Torre Agbar was inspired by Montserrat, a mountain near Barcelona, and by the shape of a geyser sprouting from the deep sea and 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 sqm (323,000 sqft) of above-ground office space, 3,210 sqm (34,500 sqft) of technical service floors with installations and 8,351 sqm (90,000 sqft) 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. A defining feature of the building is its nocturnal illumination where the lighting design is Yann Kersale. It has 4,500 LED luminous devices that allow the 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 building's façade, 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.

franckyOtedesc (Youtube)

Jean Nouvel – Agbar Tower
Jean Nouvel – Agbar Tower
Jean Nouvel – Agbar Tower
Jean Nouvel – Agbar Tower
Jean Nouvel – Agbar Tower