It was designed by the extraordinary English architect Norman Foster, here is one of his quotes: “As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which essentially is unknown” Jah! Amazing, isn’t it? Possibly describing this structural wonder, this telecommunications tower among other Foster + Partner structures, became one of Barcelona’s icons, its architectonic value, plus the energizing feeling of climbing to the top, offers a magnificent city balcony, that allows you to enjoy exceptional views of Barcelona, and the metropolitan area, which extends beyond Monserrat to the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park pre-Pyrenean Mountain range located in the Catalonia Region of Spain.
Collserola Tower by Foster + Partners
Why do not call The Collserola Tower (Torre de Collserola) the symbol of communication inspired by the 1992 Olympics?
It was designed by the extraordinary English architect Norman Foster, here is one of his quotes: “As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which essentially is unknown” Jah! Amazing, isn’t it? Possibly describing this structural wonder, this telecommunications tower among other Foster + Partner structures, became one of Barcelona’s icons, its architectonic value, plus the energizing feeling of climbing to the top, offers a magnificent city balcony, that allows you to enjoy exceptional views of Barcelona, and the metropolitan area, which extends beyond Monserrat to the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park pre-Pyrenean Mountain range located in the Catalonia Region of Spain.
This Foster + Partners structure pointing towards the sky, the silhouette of the Collserola tower on the Barcelona skyline since 1992 became a symbol of the Olympic year, in addition to creativity, natural preservation, modernity, and innovation it is the highest viewpoint on Barcelona’s plain.
With endless views, the Tower of Collserola, located at The Viana Hill has a singular catering service space for events with a 360-degree panoramic view of Barcelona and the surroundings of Collserola, the Vallès, and Tibidabo, located on the tenth floor of the tower, 1838 feet (560 meters) above sea level. The tower makes up the telecommunications hub of Catalonia, picking up 100% of the television and 95% of the radio stations in Barcelona.
It all started as a result of an ideas contest carried out by Telefónica and TVE a Spanish multinational communication company, in which the work of Foster + Partners won due to compliance with the parameters of adaptation to the landscape, aesthetics, functionality, and innovation.
Torre de Collserola Design Philosophy:
In 1987 the government of Barcelona, already defined and constituted by The Collserola Tower Society S.A. (Sociedad Torre de Collserola, S.A.) summoned a design competition between internationally recognized design firms, to develop this project, then in 1988 (four) 4, high-quality level proposals for this project were presented, including various problem solving, functionally, structural and architectural innovation. Finally, Foster + Partner’s proposal and the design idea were the winners, prioritizing the sustainability of the natural environment, landscape, the unique architectural concept, and the incorporation of the structural calculation in advance due to the collaboration of Ove Arup Engineering.
Collserola Tower an Olympic & Communication Icon:
During the urban planning fever of the 1992 Olympics, Foster + Partners built the Collserola Tower on the top of the Collserola mountain range, to ensure the city’s telecommunications, a facility technologically well ahead of its time. The project proposal was submitted for the mandatory Building Department Permit in February 1989, it was a teamwork of designers, and builders that Sir Norman Forster or Foster + Partners symbolized in the 3 radial arms that support each platform. He defined it as a new symbol for the city, a fixed tower that changes at the same time depending on the moment and perspective.
Until today, the tower carries out most of the audiovisual links in the metropolitan area and the province. The tower, with a total height of 945 Feet (288 meters) and thirteen floors, is designed with a spirit of innovation according to Foster + Partners creating this symbol for the city and a mark before and after the Olympics. Its futuristic design can be seen from many points of the city as an iconic structure.
Collserola Tower Structure:
The Foster + Partners iconic tower structure consists of a cable-stayed tower for the communications mast or tower, and a concrete reinforcement tower. The beginning of the works was in 1990 when the siting permit was signed, and the first stone was placed by Mr. Pascual Margall, the City Major for the main concrete footing, the slipform started and the tube and the leech lattice were connected into the shaft, also a provisional brace placement, to initiate the metal structure on the ground. In 1991 the sliding of the concrete shaft ends, and the platforms are raised to a height of 253 feet (77 meters), the cable–supported structures G1 & G2 concludes, and the provisional stay cable was dismantled and the placement of the G3 braces is finished. Then the tower reaches its final height including the hoisting tube
and the amazing Foster + Partners Tower lights up like a humongous Christmas tree, which achieves a Guinness Record.
Collserola Tower Chronology:
In 1992 the installation of UHF radiant systems, transmitters, and multiplexers is completed, and the Torre de Collserola is awarded the “Puente de Alcántara” International Award.
In 1997 First experimental tests of digital radio and television broadcasting were done.
In 1999 DTT is regulated with 5 national multiplexes: (4 with SFN technology and one with regional content) and a regional multiplex
In 2000 Liberation of the services for the distribution and emission of the TV signal.
In 2005 DTT is relaunched. Creation of a new analog and regional channel
In 2007 Approval of the National Plan for the Transition to Digital Terrestrial Television (TDT) establishes the orderly and coordinated cessation of analog broadcasts.
2009 A process of renovation and expansion of all the general facilities of the Complex begins.
2010 Implementation of DTT digital television.
The disconnection of the analog repeaters of the Collserola broadcasting center puts an end to analog television, culminating in an important process of technological renewal for the entry of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).
(no date) Torre de Collserola. Available at: https://www.torredecollserola.com/torre-collserola (Accessed: December 26, 2022).
✅ Collserola Tower – data, Photos & Plans (2020) WikiArquitectura. Available at: https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/collserola-tower/ (Accessed: December 19, 2022).
Infrastructure of Collserola Tower:
Site:
- Height of Turó de la Vilana s.n.d.m. 445m (1460ft).
- Base height s.n.d.m. 425m (1394ft).
- Tower: Height from the base: 288 m (945 Ft.).
- Tower: Height 1st platform: 84 m (276 Ft.).
- Tower: Height of the public viewpoint: 115.5 m (379 Ft.).
- Vision radius from the viewpoint: 70 km (43.50 miles).
- Shaft diameter: 4.5 m (15 Ft.).
- Hollow inside the shaft: 3 m (10 Ft).
- Weight of the metallic structure: 3,000 Tm.
- Lower braced: Series of approx. 180 cables in parallel of 15 mm (0.59 in) in diameter, with polyethylene sheath.
- Upper stay: Aramid fiber, three series of 7 cables in parallel of 56 mm (2.20 in). in diameter each.
- Architect: Norman Foster – Foster + Partners
- Duration of construction works: 24 months
- Construction sequence and construction: Roofs and MZOV
- Optional address: CAST. Director: Ramón Pedrerol Jardí, engineer and architect.
(no date) Torre de Collserola. Available at: https://www.torredecollserola.com/torre-collserola (Accessed: December 26, 2022).
✅ Collserola Tower – data, Photos & Plans (2020) WikiArquitectura. Available at: https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/collserola-tower/ (Accessed: December 19, 2022).
Reference List:
- The Company Torre de Collserola S.A. (2010 Approx). Torre de Collserola-Collserola Tower [online]. Available at: https:/https://www.torredecollserola.com/collserola-tower
- Foster + Partners (1992).Thansport and Infraestructure [online]. Available at: https://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/torre-de-collserola/
- La Sociedad Torre de Collesora S.A.(2010 Approx) | Telefónica [online]. Available at:https://www.torredecollserola.com/telecomunicaciones
- 9 Easy but awesome day trips from Barcelona, Sarah Baxter (2017). Collserola (Dreamstime). [online]. Available at: https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/discover/catalonia/content/9-easy-awesome-day-trips-from-barcelona/
- Torre Collserola (2009). Foros. [online]. Available at: https://www.canonistas.com/foros/showthread.php?t=193619
- Civil Engineering X (Unknown year). Cable-Supported Structures. Available at:https://civilengineeringx.com/bdac/cable-supported-structures/
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