W Barcelona Hotel, located on the new entrance of Barcelona’s Port appears as a modern icon rising above the Mediterranean sea, and is the landmark of this new area to be developed with high-end retail, office and entertainment venues. A sail shaped building on a 10 hectares land claimed from the sea, is included in an ambitious urban renovation plan of Barcelona coastline. W Barcelona Hotel is a five star-hotel with 480 rooms, 67 suites, a roof top bar, large spa, indoor and outdoor pool, several food and beverage concepts and a retail store.
© Ricardo Bofill
The closest volume to the sea is a thin building 105 meters high perpendicular to the dike (1 underground level, 1 ground floor level and 26 storey). The reflecting façade of silver glass blends with the colours of the sky and the sparkles of the sea. Its allegoric shape is a reference point. This volume is inserted in the low atrium building, the lobby of which reveals views of the sea and enjoys zenith natural light. Public functions are accommodated under a platform conceived as two huge terraces. A big congress room with a large window over the sea breaks with its volume the horizontal lines of the base of the building.
Interior Gallery
About the Facade
Shaped like a ship’s sail, the building has a smooth, stunning glass façade that envelops it, including curved sections. Guardian SunGuard® High Performance (HP) Silver 43/31 solar protective glass was chosen for its combination of aesthetic and performance qualities. This coated solar control glass allows plenty of natural daylight into the building (43% light transmission) but minimises solar energy gain. This reduces glare from direct sunlight but provides excellent solar heat reflection, helping to keep the building cool and reducing demands on air conditioning. The appearance of the glass is one of uniform reflection and colour.
Exterior Gallery
© Ricardo Bofill
© Ricardo Bofill
Project Details
Architects: Ricardo Bofill
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Project Directors: Ricardo Bofill & Jean Pierre Carniaux
Architectectural Construction director: José Maria Rocías
Area: 42.818 m2
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Ricardo Bofill
Manufacturers: Parklex International S.L., ULMA Architectural Solutions, Acor
© Ricardo Bofill
© Ricardo Bofill
Geothecnic: Uriel y asociados (Tomas Murillo)
Hotel Structure: Ideam
Parking Structure: Eduardo Palao
Installations: Projectes s.a., Jordi Oste, Carlos Morancho, Pau Riera
Collabor loghting: Birgit Walter
Collaborator urban surrounding: Jordi Henrich
Projectes S l (Engineering): Jordi Oste, Carles Morancho, Pau Riera
Structure Engineering Ideam enterprise: Francisco Millanes, Luís Matute, Miguel Ortega
Project description via Ricardo Bofill and Guardian Glass