The Plaza Europa project, designed by Albert Viaplana between 2007 and 2008, rises halfway between El Prat Airport and Barcelona, creating a new centrality through the urbanization of roads, green spaces, and mixed-use buildings. Today, it is defined by its ensemble of towers that are architectural landmarks, and now it is joined by the latest work of GCA Architects.
The Office Tower in Plaza Europa 34 stands as a glazed volume of 21 floors that escapes the stereotypes of high-rise buildings by breaking into four staggered cubes. This brings dynamism to the building while generating a series of terraces to enjoy the unparalleled views of this unique area. The façades embracing the terraces contrast with the main façade through darker glass which, together with the horizontal metallic bands, emphasizes the equilibrium of the volumes.
The project consolidates the business park of Plaza Europa as it constitutes the last office tower of the urban plan. It is linked to the urban complex through a compositional dialogue with another tower in the complex, Torre Puig, designed by GCA Architects in collaboration with Rafael Moneo and Lucho Marcial in 2014.
The building consists of 3 basement floors for parking, a first floor that serves as the main entrance to the building and incorporates a multipurpose room, and 20 floors of office space. The rear façade is a slender aluminum volume which incorporates the vertical communication core and the shared services so that the area corresponding to the glazed zone is entirely open-plan and diaphanous. Both facade typologies are integrated through the arrangement of vertical aluminum slats that give continuity to the overall design.
The Office Tower in Plaza Europa 34 project prioritized the use of low-consumption and ease of maintenance technologies, resulting in a more efficient building that has received the LEED Gold certification, which recognizes the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly buildings.
Start – End Dates | 2019-2022 |
Area | 21.000 m² |
Client | Inmocolonial |
Achievements | Leed Gold |
Type of Work | New Construction |
Structural Engineering | SOCOTEC |
MEP Engineering | PGI Engineering |
Photography | Rafael Vargas |