Agbar Tower

Sustainability for a striking landmark

Barcelona’s extraordinary Torre Agbar uses ROCKWOOL stone wool to reduce its environmental impact 

Completed in 2003 and inspired by the Montserrat Mountains and Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, the Agbar Tower has rapidly achieved icon status in Barcelona for its eye-catching appearance. The building’s multi-coloured, aluminium-clad structure reflects light during the day, and at night, the tower can be lit up with thousands of built-in LEDs.

The building’s first owners were water company Grup Agbar and the tower has been built with a strong focus on sustainability, using “bioclimatic” design that adapts to the environment. Windows and blinds maximise natural ventilation and use sunlight to reduce energy costs, and the designers sought out materials with a low environmental impact.

ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation was selected as the best choice of insulation for the tower, because of its environmental, aesthetic and technical qualities. According to architect Fermin Vazquez, the insulation “improves the comfort and habitability of the building more reliably and with better sustainability than alternatives, reducing its environmental impact over time.”

Approximately 40,000 m2 of 40mm-thick ROCKWOOL stone wool was used beneath Torre Agbar’s aluminium facade, where it protects occupants against excessive heat, noise, humidity and fire risk. Fire safety is fundamental in high-rise buildings, making non-combustible stone wool an ideal choice. The insulation can also be shaped easily to create an insulated envelope for curved and irregular structures, so at Torre Agbar it forms part of a breathable outer skin that helps the building to be comfortable, safe and energy efficient. And because of ROCKWOOL stone wool’s excellent durability, the occupants of Torre Agbar will enjoy these benefits for many years to come.

Project Data