Its organic shape, inspired by nature,
changes and opens up like a flower.
A 28-floor tower with a height of 112.71 meters and a surface area of 34,688 m², an architectural and facade engineering challenge.
This skyscraper is an iconic feature of Barcelona, a work by the Japanese architect Toyo Ito, the winner of the 2010 Emporis Skyscraper Award.
Floors
x28
26.208 units
of automotive ball joints to absorb the different angles of each tube.
31.500 units
3 km of RAL 3003 mass-colored polyethylene wicks.
738 units
of different tie rods for the window railings.
Height
112,71 m
16.056 units
50 km of 110 mm diameter extruded aluminum tubing, various sizes. Finished with Interpon-Akzo's RAL 3003 lacquer, D-1094 HR RW124L.
1.211 units
of handrails for the exterior skin support, with varying lengths and machining.
800 m²
assembled per week, by 2 teams.
Surface
34.688 m
2.478 units
of bottom end caps made of aluminum extrusion, with varying lengths and cutting angles.
1.239 units
of top end caps made of aluminum extrusion, with varying lengths and cutting angles.
x 21.727
manufacturing orders for the exterior skin.
Floors
x28
26.208 units
of automotive ball joints to absorb the different angles of each tube.
31.500 units
3 km of RAL 3003 mass-colored polyethylene wicks.
738 units
of different tie rods for the window railings.
Height
112,71 m
16.056 units
50 km of 110 mm diameter extruded aluminum tubing, various sizes. Finished with Interpon-Akzo's RAL 3003 lacquer, D-1094 HR RW124L.
1.211 units
of handrails for the exterior skin support, with varying lengths and machining.
800 m²
assembled per week, by 2 teams.
Surface
34.688 m
2.478 units
of bottom end caps made of aluminum extrusion, with varying lengths and cutting angles.
1.239 units
of top end caps made of aluminum extrusion, with varying lengths and cutting angles.
x 21.727
manufacturing orders for the exterior skin.
Double Skin with a
flexible tube system
We installed the Double Skin on a reinforced concrete structure with different floors. The inner skin features a curtain wall system, while the outer skin incorporates diagonal red metal tubes that adapt to the tower’s geometry. A total of 16,056 tubes of varying lengths add movement to the building and create different perspectives depending on the point of view.
An integral facade project
MCM managed all the phases of the facade project: global design, construction details, structural calculations, samples, tests, manufacturing drawings, layout and assembly. We also provided certificates and warranties for all materials. The engineering was completed in two months, and the construction work was executed very efficiently, finishing in ten months.
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
September 2008
Highly detailed engineering
Secure and precise installation.
Utilizing an L-shaped anchoring system, the tubes are mechanically fastened to allow for expansion, providing mobility to the facade. This is a secure installation method without the need for any lifting systems.
A trial-proof building.
The facade engineering was executed under MCM’s high quality standards, with various on-site tests to certify the acoustic insulation, the watertightness of the light facade, the live loads of the opaque panels, the live loads of the windows and the welds and microns of aluminum and steel.
Laboratory tests were also performed, including a sinusoidal vibration test combined with temperature variations, a bending test on the inner skin panels and examinations of the Schüco system.
Emporis Skyscraper Award 2010
Emporis Skyscraper Award 2010, the highest international recognition.
Every year, renowned architecture experts from over 65 countries select a globally iconic building. This award is the sole international recognition for skyscrapers. In 2010, Toyo Ito’s Hotel Porta Fira was acclaimed as the world’s best skyscraper. Its innovative design, functionality, and seamless integration with urban space have established it as a contemporary architectural reference.
The Japanese architect was also honored with the 2013 Pritzker Architecture Prize, the highest global recognition in the field. This Nobel Prize celebrates his career, marked by exceptional buildings such as the Hotel Porta Fira.