Residential Building Unique Design

This housing complex occupies the southeastern corner of Diagonal Mar area, a unique set of five blocks, located in a large public park on the water’s edge of Barcelona.

The project comprises two prismatic array towers, connected by a linear, which provides unison and continuity to the complex set volume.

The south tower, 99 meters tall, lined the seafront front closer, offering a graceful image from the far-away views from the beach and the sea, and relates in depth and height of closest buildings waterfront.

The north tower with a height of 77 meters, volumetric array alignment and shared with two inside the two towers of the next block, and form with those on the park draws a front at right angles to Avenida Diagonal.

The arm that connects both towers at the level of the first four floors, set the maximum to raise the site.

It is constructed like a bridge, with arcaded ground floor, which promotes visual continuity and preserves the unity of the park in which buildings are located.

Structurally, the towers are raised on the beginning of a strong central core, which follows the trace of the vertical connections system, and a dashed perimeter line of concrete screens that defines the envelope.

Beyond this structural front line, there is a flight of floor slabs of varying depth, which forms terrace perimeter, and model plant to plant the perceptible volume of each building.

The plane of exterior, horizontal bands formed by continuous silk-screened glass protects the terraces, and filters and qualifies the perception of interior volume, also finished with a coating of colored glass.

Depth settings flights plant to plant model the external volume to form strategic folds flat pieces of slope and overhangs and sharp edges.

Depending on the incident light and the viewer’s position, the front pieces vary throughout the day from transparent to opaque, reflective glazing, offering changing images and color hues, brightness and transparency.

This treatment gives the building a dynamic and complex picture of the volume, which folds into the floor and rises towards the sky with graceful trace.

Especially in the next view, showing the reliefs, and at the hearings on the slender side of the towers from the beach and from the Avenida Diagonal, the building shows its expressive qualities, and establishes the organic language of a game park formal mutual support.

Plans

[1] Ground floor
[2] Ground level 1-3
[3] floor plan
[4] Implementation
[5] South Tower: plant type
[6] North Tower: plant type
[7] South Tower: court
[8] North Tower: court
[9] Court building bridge
[10] Facades
[11] Detail facade

View technical specifications and contact details at bottom of page.

About the designers
For more information on Martinez / Sisterna Architects msa.cat visit

Factsheet
Location: Diagonal Mar, Barcelona, Spain
Project: Adolf Martínez, Josep Lluís Sisterna, Architects, MSA + A. Jorge Muñoz, Enrique Albin, Architecture & Planning Inc.
Project Team: Christopher Arrabal, Antoni Ramis, Thomas Riba, Ricard Morato, Architects, MSA + A
Structural Engineers: Agustí Obiol, Architect, BOMA. Juan Pablo Rodriguez, Ignacio Vallet, Architects, MSA + A
Engineering: PGI / Yolanda Boto, Architect, MSA + A
Developer: Diagonal Mar Espais
Construction company: Espais Promocions EPI Realestate
Built Area: 60 377 m2
Program: 252 units, common services, retail and parking
Height of building: south tower, 99.00 meters (26 floors) north tower: 77.00 meters (22 floors)
Project Year: 2003-2005
Year built: 2005-2008
Photo: Adrià Goula, Rafael Vargas. -via-