Jean Nouvel – The Torre Agbar

Biography: Jean Nouvel was born in 1945 in Fumel, France. He has been working as an architect since 1975, mainly in France, Germany and Japan.

• 1972 – diploma from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts
• 1975 – opens his first architectural studio
• 1981 – wins competition for a series of large-scale projects proposed by President Francois Mitterrand
• 1988 – forms a partnership with Swiss architect Emmanuel Cattani
• 1991 – becomes vice-president of the Institut Frençais d’Architecure
• 1993 – named Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects

Design Philosophy: “ For me, architecture is a modification. A little modification of a landscape, a part of a city, a complement to other buildings, a testimony of an epoch and so on. It’s not a kind of sculpture. “

– sensitivity to context – cultural, geographical or architectural.

– more dynamic and lively architecture.

“My research is always around the idea of specificity and I don’t like to repeat the same vocabulary or to do the same architecture on every spot on the earth.”

– focus on creating something unique and exclusive to the place.

– full of simplicity, delicacy, & depth. The Torre Agbar, Barcelona, Spain: Project Details:

• Program: 142 m highrise for the registered office of the company Aigües de Barcelona (AGBAR) + auditorium of 350 places
• Client: Layetana Inmuebles S.L.
• Architects: AJN and b720 (Barcelona Architectural studio)
• Structure: Obiols/Brufau
• Builder: Dragados/Axima/Emte
• Architect/Lobby/Top Management: b720 advised by AJN
• Project Management: Master Igeneria
• General Management: Agbar Servicios Compartidos

Location: Its Key strategic position ensures easy access and proximity to the most important and emblematic places in the city The origin: Inspired by the architectural legacy of Montserrat, the Agbar Tower rises from the ground with the power and lightness of a geyser. Use of 81000 LEDs to produce 16 million colours Bioclimatic Architecture

• Regulation of air flow
• Use of sunlight through building’s orientation
• Energy Efficient
• Use of insulating, recyclable and non-contaminating materials.
• Use of Renewable Energy sources in design.

Air Flow:

• 8500 windows designed to achieve natural ventilation.
• Double glazing

Materials & Energy Efficiency:

• No material is used that contains formaldehyde, asbestos or lead.
• Optimization of elevator routes using a computer system to avoid unnecessary consumption and ensure service for people with special needs.
• Average solar heat gain : 25.11 %.
• Natural Heating and Ventilation through louvers.
• Temperature sensors on external façade.

Use of sunlight: Fritted Louvers

• provide partial shade to the building’s surface, and
• create a ventilation space that allows heat to rise and escape before reaching the thermal envelope behind.

A Business Tower

• It announces the location of the new barcelona business centre like a lighthouse attracting businesses for the immediate future.
• At the doors of the new business district 22 in Barcelona.
• Priviledged work environment with singular prestige.

Office Spaces:

• Column free spaces
• Free height 2.6m
• Encapsulated technical floor
• 1500kg/m² load bearing steel false ceiling.
• Embedded sprinklers and lights
• Modular furniture
• One kitchen per floor

Building Characteristics:

• 28 floors : Office Use
• 03 floors : Refugee floors
• 01 floor   : Cafeteria
• 01 floor   : Multipurpose Room
• 01 floor   : Panoramic View
• 8 Elevators +
• 1 Service Elevator +
• 02 floors : Auditorium + Services
• 02 floors : Parking

Interior Design

• The interior design is based on the energy and colour of its exterior skin

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